Gagnon pitches + Walla homer = Rattlers win

MILWAUKEE, WI - Drew Gagnon tossed eight scoreless innings and Max Walla hit a three run homer for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Friday night at Miller Park. That was all the Rattlers needed to defeat the Dayton Dragons 3-0.

The Timber Rattlers (12-10) started quickly against Dragons starting pitcher Radhames Quezada. Chadwin Stang singled past Quezada's glove to get the first inning going. Brandon Macias followed with a line drive single off the chest of Quezada. Walla drove the next pitch from Quezada over the wall in right field for a three-run homer.

The home run was the second for Walla at Miller Park. He also homered in the Rising Stars game, an All-Star Game for prospects in the Milwaukee Brewers system, on April 2, 2011.

Gagnon didn't need anything else. The third round pick of the Brewers in the 2011 draft allowed four hits, walked one and struck out four. He extended his current scoreless streak to 19-2/3 innings with his eight scoreless frames on Friday night.

The only real threat that the Dragons (11-11) had came in the fourth inning. Juan Perez doubled and went to third on a deep fly ball to right. Gagnon hit Sean Buckley to put runners on the corners. But, Gagnon induced Juan Silva to ground into an inning ending 1-6-3 double play.

The Rattlers offense wouldn't cross the plate after the first, but Walla would a double in the fifth inning. Greg Hopkins moved his hitting streak to a team high eight games with a double in the sixth and a single in the eighth.

Tommy Toledo worked a perfect ninth.

The Timber Rattlers return to Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium to face the Bowling Green Hot Rods Saturday night. Mark Williams (0-2, 4.24) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Bowling Green has Trevor Shull (0-0, 6.30) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 6:35pm.

Saturday night is a Fly Away Saturday and one lucky fan will win airfare for two from Funjet Vacations and Fox World Travel at this game! Also, the first 1,000 fans will receive a poster of Timber Rattlers shortstop Yadiel Rivera, the #15 prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers system.

If you can't make it to the ballpark, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280,WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. The game is also available on MiLB.TV.

HOME RUN:
WIS:
Max Walla (1st, 2 on in 1st inning off Radhames Quezada, 0 out)

WP: Drew Gagnon (2-0)
LP: Radahmes Quezada (0-3)
SAVE: Tommy Toledo (1)

TIME: 2:10
ATTN: 6,616