Timber Rattlers sweep Clinton
The Timber Rattlers completed a sweep of the best-of-three series to advance to the Midwest League Championship Series for the first time since 1999.
Wilson went 2-for-4 with a grand slam, a double and six RBIs, while Navarro had four hits, including two doubles, and five RBIs to lead a 16-hit attack.
Four Wisconsin pitchers combined on the three-hitter. Cibney Bello (1-0) yielded two hits, struck out six and walked three over six innings, while Stephen Kahn fanned one in a perfect seventh. Jason Snyder and Ivan Blanco tossed one frame apiece, each allowing a hit and striking out two.
After Brent Johnson hit an RBI single in the third inning, Navarro singled and Jeff Clement walked to load the bases for Wilson. The 22-year-old right fielder belted his first postseason homer to left with one out to give the Timber Rattlers a 6-0 lead.
Johnson also doubled and scored on a wild pitch by starter John Bannister (0-1) in the first.
Both Navarro and Wilson contributed to a four-run fourth. Matt Tuiasosopo was hit by a pitch to start the bottom half and Jack Arroyo walked. Both runners moved into scoring position on a balk by Bannister, who walked Johnson to load the bases. After reliever Daniel Touchet came in, Navarro and Wilson sandwiched doubles that produced three runs around Clement's RBI single.
With two outs and runners on first and second in the fifth, Navarro knocked in a run with a single to center, extending Wisconsin's lead to 11-0.
Clinton reliever Roberto Perez took the mound in the sixth and retired the first two batters before walking Chris Colton and serving up a home run to Tuiasosopo.
The Timber Rattlers capped the scoring with a three-run eighth. Reliever Josh Giles replaced Edwin Vera, who got into and out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh. Navarro delivered a two-run double and Wilson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Clinton came close to breaking up the shutout in the third. Matt Smith walked and Brandon Boggs singled with one out. Both runners moved into scoring position on a flyout by Casey Benjamin and a wild pitch by Bello. But Bello fanned Jim Fasano to end the threat.
In the eighth, the LumberKings' Matt Smith singled and advanced with one out on a wild pitch by Snyder. But third baseman Green caught a pop-up by Truan Mehl and pinch-hitter Johnny Washington struck out to end the inning.
Wisconsin will travel to South Bend to take on the Silver Hawks for the league title in a best-of-five series, beginning at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday. --Marissa Rega/MLB.com