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LumberKings rally again to beat Wisconsin

Rattlers starting pitcher Brooks Hall K's 10, but gets a no decision
July 29, 2011
CLINTON, IA - For the second night in a row, the Clinton LumberKings owned the seventh inning. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers rode a 10 strikeout performance from Brooks Hall to a 3-2 lead. But, Clinton scored three times off the bullpen in the bottom of the seventh inning to grab a 5-3 lead. Clinton would hold off the Rattlers over the last two innings to record the three-game series sweep.

Mike Walker, the Timber Rattlers leader in RBI, cashed in an early scoring opportunity for Wisconsin (51-52 overall, 13-20 second half). TJ Mittelstaedt singled and Jason Rogers walked with one out to put runners at first and second. Walker bounced a single to right and Mittelstaedt scored for a 1-0 lead.

Clinton (42-62, 18-15) rallied with two outs and none on in the third inning. Mike McGee was hit by a pitch. Kevin Rivers followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Before the 0-1 pitch from Hall went homeward to Matt Browning, a balk was called on the Rattlers starter. That allowed McGee to score. Then, a grounder off the bat of Browning was booted for an error to let Rivers score and the LumberKings were up 2-1.

The Rattlers put together a two out rally of their own in the top of the fourth. Greg Hopkins was at third and scored when Tony Pechek reached on an error. Franklin Romero, Jr. followed with a triple to score Pechek and give the Rattlers a 3-2 lead.

Hall settled in with that lead and protected it through the sixth inning. Hall struck out ten in the game to set a new single game high as a professional. He walked one and scattered five hits to put the Rattlers in position to close out their long road trip on a high note.

In the bottom of the seventh, Alan Williams relieved Hall and struck out the first batter he faced. But, Williams walked the next three batters to load the bases.

Casey Medlen relieved Williams and got the second out of the inning with a strikeout, but a wild pitch with Kalian Sams at the plate let the tying run score. Sams smacked the next pitch to left field for a two-run single and a 5-3 Clinton lead. That would be the final score.

The Rattlers wrapped up their nine game road trip with a 3-6 record.

The Timber Rattlers return home on Saturday night to face the Burlington Bees. Matt Miller (3-4, 4.74) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Burlington has Jose Macias (2-3, 6.23) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 6:35pm.

The first 1,000 fans in attendance at Time Warner Cable Field on Saturday night will receive an umbrella courtesy of Cher-Make. There is also a postgame fireworks display courtesy of FOX 11.

Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280 or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. Saturday is also the official debut of Timber Rattlers on milb.tv.

WP: Anthony Fernandez (4-3)
LP: Alan Williams (0-1)
SAVE: Jonathan Arias (4)

TIME: 2:30