Hopkins and Rogers go on rampage in Rattlers win

PEORIA, IL - Greg Hopkins, Jason Rogers, and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers seemed a little perturbed that their six-game winning streak ended in a walkoff loss at Quad Cities on Friday night. The Timber Rattlers banged out 16 hits and defeated the Peoria Chiefs 11-3 Saturday night at Peoria Chiefs Stadium. Hopkins and Rogers led the onslaught for Wisconsin. Hopkins homered twice, doubled, and drove in six runs. and Rogers had four hits, including a home run, and three RBI to move Wisconsin to 3-1 in the first four games of their 13-game road trip.

Hopkins gave the Timber Rattlers (31-18) a 1-0 lead in the second inning. His double drove in Nick Ramirez from second base. Later in the inning, Yadiel Rivera knocked in Hopkins with an infield grounder.

Wisconsin went up 3-0 in the third on an RBI single by Rogers. One out later, Hopkins hit his first home run of the night, a two-run shot to left, and the Rattlers pushed their advantage to 5-0.

Peoria (22-27) got to starting pitcher David Goforth for a run in the bottom of the third on a two-out solo homer by Marco Hernandez.

Hopkins struck again in the Rattlers half of the fifth inning. Brandon Macias singled and Rogers doubled to set the table. Hopkins drilled the three-run homer to left to put Wisconsin up 8-1.

Rogers got his turn to go deep in the sixth inning. Macias walked with one out and Rogers crushed his sixth homer of the season. The deep drive to left-center put the Rattlers up 10-1.

Goforth gave up a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI single by Zeke DeVoss and an RBI grounder by Wes Darvill. Goforth didn't walk a batter and struck out four over six innings before turning the game over to reliever Chad Pierce.

Chadwin Stang made it 11-3 for the Rattlers with an RBI single in the top of the seventh.

Pierce pitched three scoreless innings and struck out three to pick up his first professional save.

Game two of the four game series is Sunday afternoon. Will West (1-0, 3.60) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Michael Jensen (4-2, 2.92) is set to start for the Chiefs. Game time at Peoria Chiefs Stadium is 2:00pm. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 1:40pm.

HOME RUNS:
WIS:
Greg Hopkins (4th, 1 on in 3rd inning off Gerardo Concepcion, 2 outs)
Greg Hopkins (5th, 2 on in 5th inning off Gerardo Concepcion, 1 out)
Jason Rogers (6th, 1 on in 6th inning off Felix Pena, 1 out)

PEO: Marco Hernandez (2nd, 0 on in 3rd inning off David Goforth, 2 out)

WP: David Goforth (4-3)
LP: Gerardo Concepcion (1-4)
SAVE: Chad Pierce (1)

TIME: 2:46
ATTN: 3,501