Bees shutout Wisconsin to take series lead

BURLINGTON, IA - Tanner Peters and a pair of Burlington relievers pushed the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers season to the brink on Wednesday night at Community Field. The trio of Bees combined to shutout - and almost completely shut down - the Rattlers 4-0 in Game One of the best-of-three first round playoff series.

Bobby Crocker put the Bees in front in the second inning. Max Muncy reached on a leadoff walk. Then, Crocker cracked a line drive home run over the wall in center and Burlington was up 2-0.

Burlington tacked on another run in the third inning. Sam Roberts drew a one out walk. He scored when Muncy's two-out fly ball was dropped in left-center field and the Bees were up 3-0.

Wisconsin got a leadoff single from Rafael Neda in the top of the second inning. Peters retired the final eighteen batters he faced. He struck out six over seven innings. The only walk he issued was a free pass to Brandon Macias to start the game in the top of the first.

Muncy added to Burlington's lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Addison Russell reached on a two out single. Muncy doubled off the wall in right-center and the Bees went up 4-0.

Seth Frankoff kept the streak going in the top of the eighth as he retired the three Wisconsin batters he faced.

Nick Ramirez snapped the streak at 23 in a row with a two out double in the top of the ninth inning. But, Bees closer Jose Macias finished off the Rattlers with a strikeout to end the game.

Game Two of the first round is Thursday night at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Fond du Lac native Chad Pierce (7-5, 3.47) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Burlington plans on AJ Cole (6-3, 2.07) as their starter. Game time is 6:35pm.

The Timber Rattlers will have a bonus Bang for Your Buck Night with soda, hotdogs, and beer for $1 on Thursday night. Plus, Thursday is also a College Night. Tickets are reserved bleacher seats are just $1 with a College ID.

If you can't make it to the game and are a Time Warner Cable Subscriber, you can still catch the game on Sports32.

The game will also be broadcast on AM1280, WNAM and timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. MiLB.TV subscribers may also catch the game over the internet.

HOME RUN:
BUR:
Bobby Crocker (1st, 1 on in 2nd inning off Jacob Barnes, 0 out)

WP: Tanner Peters (1-0)
LP: Jacob Barnes (0-1)

TIME: 2:24
ATTN: 564