Goforth and Garza lead Rattlers to victory
Wisconsin (56-36 overall, 12-11 second half) had the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the first and Garza drove in a pair of runs with a single to center. Garza, the 20th round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2012 draft, had struggled in his first seven games since joining the Timber Rattlers. He had been 3-for-33 with no RBI in his first week in the Midwest League.
Goforth retired the first two batters in the bottom of the first inning. But, a two-out double was followed by an RBI single by Yeison Asencio to give Fort Wayne a run.
The TinCaps (43-50, 12-11) scored again in the bottom of the third inning. Kyle Gaedele doubled with one out and Jace Peterson drove home Gaedele with a two out single to tie the game 2-2. Goforth didn't allow anything after that run.
The score remained tied until the fifth inning. Lance Roenicke, who had singled with one out, was at third base with two outs. Ben McMahan snapped the tie with a sharp single to center to score Roenicke for a 3-2 lead.
The inning probably should have ended on the next batter. Nick Ramirez hit a popup to shallow left field, but a combination of the wind and poor communication by the Fort Wayne fielders allowed the ball to drop in for a single and sent McMahan around to third base. Garza made the most of the opportunity and drilled a double into the left field corner to score two more runs with a double. Max Walla made it a four-run rally with an RBI single and the Rattlers had a 6-2 lead.
Wind had nothing to do with the next hit by Ramirez. The Rattlers first baseman crushed a 2-2 pitch to right-center for his ninth home run of the season in the top of the seventh inning. The solo shot put the Rattlers up 7-2.
Roenicke doubled in the ninth and scored on double by McMahan for Wisconsin's eighth run.
Goforth made the longest start of his professional career with his eight innings on Sunday. He didn't walk a batter as he scattered eight hits and struck out three. The win was the seventh of the season for Goforth.
Game three of the series is Monday night at Parkview Field. Mark Williams (5-6, 3.56) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Frank Garces (5-4, 2.55) is set to start for the TinCaps. Game time is 6:05pm. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 5:45pm.
HOME RUN:
WIS:
Nick Ramirez (9th, 0 on in 7th inning off Dennis O'Grady, 1 out)
WP: David Goforth (7-4)
LP: Cody Hebner (6-5)
TIME: 2:33
ATTN: 4,574