Rattler fall behind early, lose to Peoria
Rattlers starting pitcher Matt Miller did not receive a warm welcome back from the disabled list as the Chiefs scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning. Rubi Silva reached on an error with one out. Richard Jones drove in Silva with a two-out double. That was just a prelude to the second inning.
Miller, who was making his first start since May 19, gave up a single and a double to start the inning. An error allowed the first run of the inning to score. Miller rebounded to get the first out of the inning. Then, things got out of hand.
Matt Szczur singled in a run. Rubi Silva followed with an RBI single. Greg Rohan also singled in a run and the Chiefs had a 4-1 lead. Miller struck out Richard Jones for the second out. But, the Chiefs stole a run.
Rohan broke for second and beat the throw to second. Silva broke for the plate on the throw down to second and the return throw home was late. Micah Gibbs singled to drive in Rohan and knock Miller out of the game.
Ryan Cuneo, who started the inning with a single, greeted Rattler reliever Damon Krestalude with an RBI double to cap the inning and give the Chiefs an 8-0 lead.
Giansanti started the Peoria third with a home run and the Chiefs were up 9-0.
Wisconsin (39-35, 1-3) loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the third inning. But, the bases were still loaded with two outs. But, Hopkins salvaged the opportunity and knocked in two runs with a single to center to make the score 9-2.
However, the Chiefs responded with three runs in the top of the fourth. Jones doubled in the first run of the frame. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Cuneo. Elliot Soto scored later in the inning on a wild pitch.
Peoria starting pitcher Matt Loosen allowed two runs on four hits and struck out seven over six innings of work in his Midwest League debut. He would pick up the win, but the Chiefs offense was not close to being done.
They added three more runs in the sixth inning. Two came in on a double by Pierre LaPage. Szcrur followed with an RBI double. When LaPage singled in the gave every member of the Peoria batting order at least one hit in the game.
Giansanti hit his second homer of the game with one out in the top of the eighth inning and the Chiefs were up 16-2.
The Rattlers strung together six hits with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning. Cody Hawn drove in the first run with a single. Hopkins got his third RBI of the night with a double. Then, Mike Walker hit a long home run to center. The three-run blast, the 12th of the season for Walker, made the score 16-7. Walker has five home runs and 18 RBI against the Chiefs in 2011.
Rattlers outfielder TJ Mittelstaedt brought his knuckleball in to pitch the top of the ninth inning and he worked a scoreless inning, but the Rattlers could not get anything across the plate in the bottom of the ninth.
The series continues on Tuesday night at Time Warner Cable Field. Maverick Lasker, a member of the Timber Rattlers in 2010, makes his Midwest League debut for 2011 as Wisconsin's starting pitcher. Left-hander Graham Hicks (1-3, 4.32) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Chiefs. Game time is 7:05pm.
Tuesday night is Ladies Night at Time Warner Cable Field. The first 400 female fans aged 18 and older to attend the game on June 28 will receive pink water bottles and gift bags from Knights Jewelry. A few lucky female fans will selected for a postgame diamond dig after Tuesday's game. For the diamond dig, one diamond will be buried amongst cubic zirconium in the beach seating area beyond the outfield fence in right-centerfield. There is also a pearl pendant giveaway from Rogers and Hollands during the game.
It's also a Bang for Your Buck Night means Pepsi products, Cher-Make hot dogs, and Miller Beer products are available for $1.
Plus, it is a KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets. Buy 1 Ticket, Get 1 Free from KRAFT Singles with purchase. Bring your package wrapper to a Timber Rattlers game on Tuesdays for a steal of a deal!
If you can't make it out to the ballpark, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:45pm.
HOME RUNS:
PEO:
Anthony Giansanti (8th, 0 on in 3rd inning, off Damon Krestalude)
Anthony Giansanti (9th, 0 on in 8th inning, off Charly Bashara)
WIS:
Mike Walker (12th, 2 on in 8th inning, off Alvaro Sosa)
WP: Matt Loosen (1-0)
LP: Matt Miller (2-4)
TIME: 3:05
ATTN: 2,415