Late LumberKings rally stops Rattlers
The Rattlers (51-51 overall, 13-19 second half) grabbed the lead in the second inning. Jason Rogers singled and Greg Hopkins doubled to put runners at second and third with no outs. Chad Stang's sacrifice fly to right field got Rogers home and sent Hopkins to third. An RBI grounder by Joey Paciorek scored Hopkins for a 2-0 lead.
Rogers blasted a leadoff homer in the fourth inning to put the Rattlers up 3-0.
Wisconsin starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson walked the leadoff batter in the bottom of the first inning. Then, he retired the next nine batters he faced. Julio Morban started the Clinton fourth with a bunt single. He would be erased when Kevin Rivers grounded into a force play at second. Rivers was still at first with two outs. Then, Mickey Wiswall doubled down the first base line to score Rivers.
Clinton (41-61, 17-15) took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Matt Browing started the inning with a fly ball to center that was lost in the lights for a double. Nelson walked the next batter, but struck out Carlton Tanabe for the first out. Then, Mike McGee singled to load the bases.
Julio Morban sent two runs home with a single to tie the game. An RBI grounder by Rivers knocked in the run to put Clinton up 4-3.
Mike Brownstein singled to start the Rattlers seventh inning. He moved around to third base on a pair of wild pitches. A sacrifice fly by TJ Mittelstaedt scored Brownstein with the tying run.
Rattlers reliever Greg Holle got the first two outs of the seventh inning and the game appeared headed to the eighth inning still tied. But, the LumberKings had other ideas. McGee singled and Morban walked. Rivers singled to right and McGee was ruled safe at the plate after a strong throw home by Chad Stang to give Clinton a 5-4 lead.
Stefen Romero sent the next pitch into the left field corner for a two-run double and a 7-4 lead. Later in the inning, Kalian Sams knocked in Romero with a single off reliever Brian Garman to make the score 8-4.
Tyler Blandford and Tyler Burgood came out of the Clinton bullpen and combined to get the final six outs of the game.
The final game of the series is Friday evening. The Rattlers have Charly Bashara (4-4, 4.90) as the scheduled starting pitcher. Clinton has Anthony Fernandez (3-3, 3.45) as their probable starter. Game time is 7:00pm. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:40.
HOME RUN:
WIS:
Jason Rogers (4th, 0 on in 4th inning, off George Mieses, 0 out)
WP: Matt Bischoff (2-2)
LP: Greg Holle (0-4)
TIME: 3:03