Ross rules, but Rattlers fall to late Snappers rally

GRAND CHUTE, WI -  The Beloit Snappers spoiled an impressive start by Austin Ross Monday night at Time Warner Cable Field.  The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers right-hander worked seven shutout innings, allowed three hits, walked one, and struck out eight in the game.  But, Beloit scored four times in the top of the ninth inning to defeat Wisconsin 4-2.

The Rattlers (5-6) grabbed an early lead with single runs in the first and second innings.  Jason Rogers knocked in the run in the first with a single.  Tony Pechek doubled in a run with two outs in the second inning for the 2-0 advantage.

Ross was outstanding with the lead.  He limited the Snappers to four base runners over his seven innings.  Beloit (7-4) never had more than one runner on base at the same time against Ross.  Of the eight strikeouts recorded by Ross, five of them came in his final two innings.

However - for the second time in two days - the Rattlers bullpen could not get the final three outs for a victory.  On Sunday, Peoria scored four times in the top of the seventh inning of game one of a doubleheader.  On Monday, the Rattlers needed three pitchers to get through the ninth inning, but not before the Snappers took the lead.

Greg Holle, who worked a scoreless eighth inning gave up back-to-back doubles to Lance Ray and Oswaldo Arcia in the top of the ninth.  The Arcia double off the wall in left scored Ray.

Tyler Cravy was next out of the Rattlers bullpen and his first pitch was wild to let Arcia take third base.  Michael Gonzales delivered a single to send Arcia home with the tying run.

Pinch runner Jamaal Hawkins was running on a pitch to Daniel Ortiz and that kept the Snappers out of a double play when Ortiz sent a grounder to second.  Kyle Knudson followed with a bloop single down the right field line to score Hawkins with the go ahead run.

Derek McCallum was next and he singled.  Then, Andrew Leer singled to send Knudson home with the fourth run of the inning to send Cravy to the showers.  Beloit collected six hits by the first seven batters of the top of the ninth inning.

Tom Keeling entered the game and got the final two outs of the frame.

Pechek singled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to bring the tying run to the plate.  But, Jose Gonzalez got the final out to preserve the comeback win for the Snappers.

Game two of the three game series is scheduled for Tuesday night.  Matt Miller (0-1, 8.68) is scheduled to make the start for the Timber Rattlers.  BJ Hermsen (1-1, 1.59) is set to start for Beloit.  Game time is 6:35pm.  If you can't make it to Time Warner Cable Field for a 'Bang for Your Buck Night', tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com.  The Miller Lite Pregame Show starts at 6:15pm.  

                  R     H     E
BEL 000 000 004 - 4     10    0
WIS 110 000 000 - 2      6    2

Click here for a complete boxscore of Monday's game

WP: Matt Hauser (2-0)
LP: Tyler Cravy (1-1)
SV: Jose Gonzalez (2)

TIME: 2:55
ATTN: 347