Twelve round decision goes to the Snappers
Wisconsin (75-59 overall, 31-34 second half) took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Yadiel Rivera doubled and Carlos George reached on an error. A sacrifice bunt by Adrian Williams moved both runners into scoring position. Chadwin Stang put the Rattlers in front with a single to right that scored Rivera. George would score - and Stang take third - on an errant pickoff. An RBI grounder by Brandon Macias sent Stang home for a 3-0 lead.
Ben McMahan blasted a long home run in the fourth inning for a 4-0 lead. McMahan's 13th home run of the season was the 100th of the year for the team. Wisconsin is one round tripper shy of tying the franchise mark for team homers in a season. The 2005 Rattlers squad hit 101 home runs.
Beloit (73-62, 34-41) rallied for a run in the sixth inning off Rattlers starting pitcher Chad Thompson. A two-out RBI double by Wang-Wei Lin drove in Kennys Vargas for the first Beloit run.
Thompson left after six innings with that 4-1 lead. That lead was gone before the top of the seventh was over and the Snappers did it without a hit.
Wisconsin Reliever Eric Semmelhack walked the first two batters of the inning. Then, JD Williams dropped a sacrifice bunt in front of the plate and an errant throw to first allowed two runs to score and Williams to take third base. An RBI grounder off the bat of Kennys Vargas score the tying run.
The Rattlers had chances to at least take the lead in the eighth or win the game in the ninth.
Wisconsin loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning, but Beloit's right-handed reliever Corey Williams got out of the frame with a popout and a strikeout.
In the ninth, Rivera was at third base with two outs and the Snappers brought Zack Jones out of the bullpen to face Chadwin Stang. Stang fouled off several 3-2 pitches from Jones before lining a pitch deep to center field. However, Lin ran the ball down on the track and made the catch to send the game to extra innings.
Beloit got a leadoff walk in the top of the tenth inning and had runners at first and second with two outs against reliever Michael Strong. Pettersen singled to drive in the go ahead run.
Wisconsin answered in the bottom of the tenth Macias walked to start the inning. A single to right by Rafael Neda and an error on the play sent Macias to third. Nick Ramirez drove in Macias with a sacrifice fly.
A leadoff walk started the Beloit twelfth inning. That runner was at second with two outs. Rattlers reliever Kevin Shackelford got ahead of Pettersen with two quick strikes, but the Snappers third baseman lined the 0-2 pitch to left and the go ahead run scored for a 6-5 lead.
Wisconsin went down in order in the bottom of the twelfth and the Snappers picked up the win in game one of the series.
Game two of the series is Thursday night at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Jacob Barnes (4-6, 3.61) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. The Snappers send Cole Johnson (3-1, 1.70) to the mound. Game time is 7:05pm.
Beloved former Timber Rattlers concessions worker Brock Calmes, who passed away earlier this season, was the overwhelming selection to be the Pepsi Fans' Choice Bobblehead. The first 1,000 fans to enter the stadium on Thursday will receive the bobblehead of Brock.
Thursday is a Thirsty Thursday presented by Slugger's Sports Bar and 95.9 KISS-FM. All fans can enjoy 16oz soda and beer for just $2. After the game, those in attendance can take their ticket stub to Sluggers Sports Bar - located in Super Bowl on Northland Avenue - to win Miller Lite drinks and prizes.
Fans may also pick up their Static Cling schedule for the 2013 Timber Rattlers scheduled courtesy of BioLife Plasma Services at this game.
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 RUN:
Ben McMahan (13th, 0 on in 4th inning off David Hurlbut, 0 out)
WP: Steven Gruver (7-8)
LP: Kevin Shackelford (-5)
TIME: 3:53
ATTN: 3,984