Rattlers drop fourth straight

GRAND CHUTE, WI - Richard Jones hit a pair of home runs and Brent Ebinger pitched 4-2/3 innings of shutout relief to lead the Peoria Chiefs to a 4-1 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Tuesday night at Time Warner Cable Field. The loss was the fourth in a row for the Timber Rattlers.

The Chiefs (35-40 overall, 2-3 second half) scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning. Matt Szczur started the game by bunting. The ball was fielded by pitcher Maverick Lasker, but his throw went down the right field line to allow Szczur to take second. A single by Pierre LaPage sent Szczur to third. Greg Rohan knocked Szczur in with a grounder to first for a 1-0 lead.

Jones struck for the first time in the game with one out in the top of the fourth inning. His home run to left made the score 2-0.

The Rattlers (39-36, 1-4) threatened in the bottom of the fourth. The Rattlers had two walks and three hits, but only scored one run. Nick Shaw started the inning with a walk, but was out 1-3-6 on a caught stealing. Cody Hawn, who was a the plate when Shaw was caught trying to steal, drew a walk. Greg Hopkins and Mike Walker followed with singles to load the bases.

Chris Dennis drove a single to right to score Hawn and keep the bases loaded. But, that single knocked starter Graham Hicks out of the game. Ebinger relieved Hicks and retired the next two Rattlers to keep the score at 2-1.

Jones padded the lead to 4-1 with a two-out, two-run homer in the top of the sixth.

That was enough for Ebinger. The lefty tossed 4-2/3 innings of shutout relief and allowed one hit while striking out three.

PJ Francescon, the Chicago Cubs 40th round pick in the 2011 draft, gave up a hit in the ninth, but struck out a pair to pick up his first professional save.

The series shifts to Miller Park on Wednesday night as the Rattlers and Chiefs play the final game of the three game set at the home of the Milwaukee Brewers. Wisconsin has Brooks Hall (3-1, 3.38) as their scheduled starting pitcher. Peoria has Austin Kirk (4-4, 2.69) scheduled to start for them. Game time is 7:05pm.

Tickets for the game are $10 general admission and may be purchased at the Miller Park ticket office.

If you can't make it out to the game, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or on timberrattlers.com. The Miller Lite Pregame Show kicks everything off at 6:45pm.

HOME RUNS:
PEO:
Richard Jones (12th, 0 on in 4th, off Maverick Lasker, 1 out)
Richard Jones (13th, 1 on in 4th, off Maverick Lasker, 2 out)

WP: Brent Ebinger (1-2)
LP: Maverick Lasker (0-1)
SAVE: PJ Francescon (1)

TIME: 2:33
ATTN: 4,665