Rattlers break out the offense in 10-2 win over Clinton
CLINTON, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had their highest offensive output of the season on Wednesday afternoon at Ashford University Field and beat the Clinton LumberKings 10-2. Tucker Neuhaus celebrated his return from the disabled list with three hits, including a home run, and three RBI to pace the offense.
Wisconsin (7-13) had Gregory Munoz and Monte Harrison draw walks to start the game and the first of five Clinton errors loaded the bases with no outs. Clinton starter Lukas Schiraldi got a strikeout for the first out of the inning. Then, things got weird.
Neuhaus sent a grounder to second baseman Francisco Wawoe, who stepped on second to force Dustin DeMuth. The throw to first was wild and both Munoz and Harrison scored. Neuhaus reached second base as DeMuth was jogging to third. The umpires ruled the runs as crossing the plate, but Neuhaus was out due to DeMuth trying to confuse the defense (Rule 7.09 (e)). That's how the inning ended.
The Rattlers added to their lead thanks to another error in the third inning. What would have been the third out of the inning, turned out to be a bad throw and Mitch Meyer scored from third on the play.
Clinton (7-13) cut into the lead in the bottom of the third when Wawoe scored from third on a wild pitch by Wisconsin starter Milton Gomez. But, that was the only run Gomez would allow. He went five innings and struck out five while allowing just three hits.
The Rattlers scored three times in the top of the fourth inning to take control of the game. Neuhaus was on third and scored when Schiraldi balked. Later in the inning, the bases were loaded with one out when the LumberKings misplayed another potential inning-ending double play with a bad throw to first and two runs scored for a 6-1 lead.
Greg McCall came through with a conventional RBI single in the fifth inning to make it 7-1.
In the sixth, DeMuth's RBI double with two outs scored Harrison from first base and the Rattlers were up 8-1.
Clinton scored their second run of the game in the sixth inning against reliever Luis Ortega on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Martin Peguero.
Neuhaus closed out the scoring with a two-run home run in the top of the ninth.
The Rattlers previous high for runs in a game this season was five.
Game three of the series is another afternoon game. Wisconsin has named Angel Ventura (1-0, 0.75) as their starting pitcher. Jefferson Medina (0-1, 4.50) is set to go for the LumberKings. Game time on Wednesday afternoon is noon. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 11:40am. The broadcast is also available on the internet through Tune In Radio.
HOME RUN:
WIS:
Tucker Neuhaus (1st, 1 on in 9th inning off Osmer Morales, 1 out)
WP: Milton Gomez (1-1)
LP: Lukas Schiraldi (1-2)
TIME: 3:05
ATTN: 675