Rattlers get first road win
Michael Vass gave the Timber Rattlers (11-18) a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Corey Kemp walked to start the frame. Erik Miller followed with a single and the pair pulled a double steal to get into scoring position. Vass lined a single to left-center to drive in both runs.
Wisconsin added two more runs in the second inning. Cutter Dykstra started the inning with a single. Michael Marseco sacrificed Dykstra to second. Jose Duran tripled into the right field corner to drive home Dykstra. Then, Brett Lawrie was robbed of extra bases on a great catch in center by Brendan Duffy. Duran scored on the sacrifice fly and the Rattlers led 4-0.
Meadows wrapped up his outing after a scoreless fifth inning. The lefty struck out five and did not walk a batter before turning the game over to the bullpen.
The Hawks (16-14) broke through with an unearned run against reliever Brandon Ritchie in the bottom of the seventh. Justin Parker reached on an infield single and went around to third on a throwing error on the play. An RBI grounder by Rossmel Perez drove in Parker.
Ritchie got the final out of the seventh and the first two outs of the eighth, but another error -- with a runner on base -- extended the inning. Rattler closer Jim Henderson entered the game to face the tying run at the plate. He threw one pitch and got a force out to get out of the eighth.
Henderson allowed two hits, but no runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to earn his eighth save of the season.
The Rattlers are off on Monday. The return to action on Tuesday evening in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to start a four game series with the Kernels at Perfect Game Field. Efrain Nieves (1-2, 6.10) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Ryan Chaffee (0-1, 3.60) is set to start for the Kernels. Game time is 6:35pm.