Peoria rallies to beat Wisconsin
Ben McMahan reached on a two out error in the bottom of the first inning. Cameron Garfield cashed in the opportunity with a double into the corner in left and McMahan scored for a 1-0 lead.
Wisconsin (72-54 overall, 28-29 second half) made it 2-0 in the third inning with some heads-up base running. Chadwin Stang was at first base with one out. Brandon Macias singled to right and Stang raced for third. The throw was cutoff and Macias found himself in a rundown. Macias stayed in the pickle long enough for Stang to make a break for home. The throw to get Stang was wild and he scored for a 2-0 lead.
Wisconsin starting pitcher Mark Williams gave up a run in the sixth. Jorge Soler's infield single with two outs allowed Sergio Burrell to score Peoria's first run. Williams struck out four and allowed one run on four hits in his six innings of work. He would not be involved in the decision.
The Chiefs (57-69, 21-36) took the lead in the seventh inning against Rattlers reliever Stosh Wawrzasek. The first two Peoria batters were retired by Wawrzasek, but Wes Darvill singled and stole second to keep the inning alive. Burrell singled to left and Darvill scored to tie the game. Additionally, Burrell took second on the throw to the plate. That turned out to be big.
Pin-Chieh Chen was next and he sent a grounder through the middle. Second baseman Greg Hopkins made a diving stop of the ball in shallow center and Burrell just kept running for home. The throw home was in time, but it was a shorthop and Burrell scored when the ball was bobbled at the plate.
Peoria tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning on a Rattlers mistake. Oliver Zapata was at third base with one out. Pitcher Mike Strong got a grounder back to the mound and had Zapata trapped off third. But, Wisconsin botched the rundown and Zapata scored for a 4-2 lead.
Wisconsin had just one hit after the sixth inning. Macias doubled with one out in the eighth inning, but that was it for the Rattlers offense after the Chiefs took the lead.
The homestand continues on Wednesday night with a game against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Chad Pierce (6-4, 3.43) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Frank De Jiulio (4-4, 5.70) is the scheduled starter for the Kernels. Game time is 7:05pm.
The first 500 fans to attend the game will receive magnet #4 in a series of four that have been given away this season by Lamers. This magnet is of former Timber Rattler and 2012 National League All-Star Bryan LaHair.
It's also one of the final Bang for Your Buck Nights from 105.7 WAPL with $1 Cher-Make hot dogs, $1 Pepsi Products, and $1 Miller Beers!
If you can't make it out to the ballpark, Time Warner Cable subscribers can watch the game on Sports32. Fans may also tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:45pm. Wednesday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.
WP: Austin Reed (5-7)
LP: Stosh Wawrzasek (0-1)
SAVE: Larry Suarez (4)
TIME: 2:30
ATTN: 3,321