Bees pull away from Rattlers for 9-1 win
Wisconsin (60-64 overall, 22-32 second half) got on the board in the second inning. Jason Rogers walked to start the inning, but was still at first with two outs. Then, Chad Stang sent a fly ball down the line in right field. The ball glanced off the glove of Josh Whitaker after the Bees right fielder made a long run to get to the ball. Rogers scored easily and Stang wound up on third with a triple.
The Bees (67-57, 22-32) tied the game in the bottom of the second inning. Yordano Cabrera singled to start the inning. He moved to second on a grounder and stole third. Ryan Pineda scored Cabrera with a sacrifice fly to center.
Burlington took the lead in the third inning. Josh Whitaker singled in a pair of runs to make the score 3-1. The Bees tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning off Rattlers starting pitcher Matt Miller. Tyreace House drove in the first run of the inning with a single. Beau Taylor made it 5-1 with a sacrifice fly.
Dan Britt relieved Miller to start the sixth inning and gave up a double, a single, and a walk to load the bases. Taylor drew a bases loaded walk to force in a run. Britt retired the next two batters, but allowed a double to AJ Kirby-Jones that cleared the bases to give the Bees the 9-1 lead.
Nick Shaw had three singles for the Rattlers, including a pair of leadoff singles, but Macias and two Burlington relievers held the Rattlers to one run on seven hits.
Game two of the four game series at Community Field is Sunday afternoon at 2:00pm. Brooks Hall (6-4, 3.35) is scheduled to be the starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Burlington will counter with Blake Hassebrock (7-7, 2.49) heading to the mound. Game time is 2:00pm. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 1:40pm.
WP: Jose Macias (6-3)
LP: Matt Miller (5-7)
TIME: 2:55
ATTN: 1,115