Rattlers win fourth straight

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers defeated the Great Lakes Loons 4-2 on Thursday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Isan Diaz had a pair of RBI singles, including one in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie. The win was the fourth straight for the Timber Rattlers.

The Loons (7-10) scored in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. Wisconsin starting pitcher Drake Owenby retired the first two batters in the inning. But, an infield single and an error extended the frame to Landon Logan. Logan would line a single to center to send home a run for Great Lakes. This marked the seventh straight game in which the opponents have scored first against the Timber Rattlers.

However, like in the last three games, Wisconsin (9-11) responded. Carlos Belonis singled and Jake Gatewood doubled to start the bottom of the third inning. Elvis Rubio knocked in a run with a grounder to short that also moved Gatewood to third. Diaz would come through with an RBI single with two outs in the frame to put Gatewood across the plate and five the Rattlers a 2-1 lead.

Great Lakes tied the game in the top of the fifth. Nick Dean hit a leadoff home run off Drake Owenby to even the score 2-2. Owenby left the game with Omar Estevez at first base and one out in the inning in favor of Quintin Torres-Costa. Estevez would be thrown out trying to steal second base with Edwin Rios at the plate. Then, Rios lined a pitch down the line in left, but he was out at second on a strong from Rubio as he tried to stretch the hit into a double.

Wisconsin went back in front in the bottom of the sixth. Rubio doubled with one out. Diaz knocked in Rubio with another two-out single and the Rattlers were up 3-2.

Rubio accounted for the final Wisconsin run with his second RBI grounder. Blake Allemand scored from third in the seventh on a slow chopper up the third base line off the bat of Rubio.

Torres-Costa, who picked up his first win of the season on Wednesday, left after a scoreless sixth inning and turned the game over to Miguel Diaz.

Diaz allowed a hit and walked one as he struck out five over three scoreless innings to earn his second save of the season.

Rattlers catcher Max McDowell moved his hitting streak to eight games, the longest hitting streak by a Timber Rattler in 2016, with a two-out double in the bottom of the eighth inning. McDowell is 10-for-32 during the streak.

The final game of the series is Thursday afternoon. Conor Harber (0-1, 5.79) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Dennis Santana (0-3, 3.00) is set to start for the Loons. Game time is 12:05pm.

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 as part of a 95.9, KISS-FM Craft Brews & Brats Thursday. Present the ticket to this game at World of Beer after the game and receive a free beer there. Plus, the 12:05pm start means there is a bonus Baker Tilly, WVBO, WNAM Business Person Special with a box seat ticket, a beverage and your choice of brat or hot dog available for $13.50 when you show a business card. This offer is also available for fans 55 & older.

If you can't make it out to the ballpark, there are several ways to catch the action. The radio broadcast is on 1280 AM, WNAM starting with the pregame show at 11:45am. The game is also available on the internet through IHeartRadio, TuneIn, and MiLB.TV.