Rattlers slug their way to a win in Burlington

BURLINGTON, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers bats came alive on Wednesday morning at Community Field. The Timber Rattlers scored four runs in the first two innings on their way to a 10-4 win over the Burlington Bees. Isan Diaz collected four hits, including three doubles, to pace the 16-hit attack.

Wisconsin (2-5) jumped to the early lead with three runs in the top of the first. Diaz started the game with a double. Monte Harrison followed with a line drive past the glove of the second baseman. The ball shot between the outfielders all the way to the warning track for an RBI triple. Harrison would score on a wild pitch for a 2-0 lead. Later in the inning, David Denson singled to drive in Mitch Ghelfi to cap the scoring in the inning.

The Rattlers added to their lead in the second. Diaz singled with two outs and none on base. Harrison was next and he drove a double to left-center to score Diaz.

Freddy Peralta, Wisconsin's starting pitcher, allowed a run in the bottom of the second on a two-out single by Josh Delph and Burlington (3-3) was on the board. Peralta struck out five and walked one, but his pitch count reached over 80 over four innings and he did not come out for the fifth.

Wisconsin loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth on a pair of walks and a single. Diaz sent a hard grounder up the first base line that was stopped on a nice backhand by Jared Walsh. The only play Walsh had was to step on first for the out and a run scored to make it 5-1. Harrison would strike out on a pitch in the dirt, but an errant throw to first allowed him to reach and another run to score.

Denson and Jake Gatewood had consecutive doubles to start the seventh inning for Wisconsin and make it 7-1.

Marcos Diplan, who took over for Peralta in the fifth inning, ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh. Angelo Amendolare started the frame with a double. Brandon Sanger sent a deep fly to left-center that glanced off the glove of Harrison and was ruled an error to let Amendolare to score. Diplan would retire the next three batters to end his day. He allowed an unearned run on two hits, three walks, and five strikeouts over three innings.

Diaz started another rally by drawing a leadoff walk in the top of the eighth. Ghelfi singled in Diaz with two outs and the Rattlers had an 8-3 lead.

Scott Grist entered the game from the Wisconsin bullpen in the bottom of the eighth and the Bees got a run on an RBI single by Amendolare and another on a wild pitch by Grist.

Elvis Rubio, who was placed on the Timber Rattlers roster earlier in the day and got the start for his first appearance of the season, singled with two outs in the top of the ninth to give him his third hit of the game. Carlos Belonis kept the inning going by getting a single. The hit allowed Belonis to extend his current hitting streak to six games and let Diaz get one more at bat.

Diaz did not disappoint as he lined a pitch down the line in right. Rubio and Belonis both scored on the play, but Diaz was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple.

That was about the only thing that went wrong for Diaz. He was 4-for-5 with three runs, three RBI, and a walk to go along with his three doubles. Harrison had a three-hit game with a triple, double, single, two RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base.

The Timber Rattlers return home to begin a seven-game homestand on Thursday night with a game against the Peoria Chiefs. Wisconsin has scheduled Jordan Yamamoto (0-0, 3.00) as their starting pitcher. Jake Woodford (0-0, 3.00) will be the starter for the Chiefs. Game time is 6:35pm.

Thursday is the first Craft Brews & Brats Thursday sponsored by Fat Tire, Fox River Brewing Company, and 95.9 KISS-FM at the ballpark. Fans of legal drinking age may enjoy 12-ounce craft beers for $2. Cher-Make brats are also just $2 and they are available for everyone. Beers from Fox River Brewing Company, Fat Tire, and many, many more will be available. Present the ticket to this game at World of Beer after the game and receive a free beer there.

If you can't make it out to Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium, there are several ways to follow the action. The radio broadcast is on 1280 AM, WNAM starting with the pregame show at 6:15pm. Thursday is also the first broadcast of Timber Rattlers baseball on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel. Their coverage begins at 6:30pm. The game is also available on the internet through IHeartRadio, TuneIn, and MiLB.TV.