Chiefs drop Rattlers in Peoria
The Chiefs (55-68 overall, 22-31 second half) took the lead in the first inning. A two-out RBI single by Richard Jones plated Rubi Silva and Peoria was up 1-0.
A mishandled double play ball allowed the Chiefs to put runners on first and third with no outs in the second inning. Jesus Morelli got the run home from third with a ground out.
Jones struck again to set up a run in the bottom of the third. He doubled to the wall in right with Anthony Giansanti at first to put runners on second and third with one out. Dustin Geiger, who knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on Thursday night, got Giansanti home with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.
Arnett threw a scoreless fourth inning, but the Chiefs got to him for two more runs in the fifth. Jones and Rafael Valdes each delivered an RBI single for a 5-0 lead.
Peoria poured it on against reliever Seth Lintz in the sixth. Arismendy Alcantara tripled off the wall in right field to drive in a run. Silva was next and he singled off Lintz to score Alcantara. Later in the inning, Geiger singled in Silva for an 8-0 lead.
Wisconsin (60-63, 22-31) had many chances early in the game. Twice - the fourth and sixth innings - the Rattlers got a leadoff double. But, each time that runner was still at second when the inning ended.
Frank Del Valle tossed 5-1/3 scoreless innings and struck out seven to put himself in position for the win.
The Rattlers got on the board in the eighth inning. They had runners at first and second with one out. Cody Hawn sent a grounder to short. The Chiefs got the force play at second, but the throw to first was wild. That allowed Reggie Keen, the runner at second when the play started, to score.
Jason Rogers, who had doubled in the fourth, singled in Hawn to account for the Rattlers second run. That hit by Rogers was the only one by a Rattler player with a runner in scoring position. Wisconsin ended the night 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
Wisconsin's road trip continues on Saturday when they open a four game series at Community Field in Burlington, Iowa against the Burlington Bees. Matt Miller (5-6, 4.50) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. The Bees are sending Jose Macias (5-3, 4.45) to the mound. Game time is 6:30pm. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:10pm.
WP: Frank Del Valle (3-2)
LP: Eric Arnett (0-2)
TIME: 2:52
ATTN: 4,158