Bandits build big lead to beat Rattlers

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers committed four errors on Saturday night as the Quad Cities River Bandits grabbed an early 6-0 lead at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium on Saturday night. Quad Cities went on to beat the Rattlers 8-4.

The River Bandits (32-40 overall, 1-2 second half) took the lead with two unearned runs in the top of the first inning. Osvaldo Duarte was at first and running on a pitch to Kyle Tucker, who hit a grounder to third. The throw to first was wild and Duarte scored while the Rattlers defense retrieved the baseball. Later in the inning, Dexture McCall drove in a run with a two-out single.

Wisconsin (36-37, 2-1) committed consecutive errors to start the top of the second inning, but starting pitcher Marcos Diplan nearly got out of the jam. However, a two-out home run over the beach in right-center by Tucker put the River Bandits up 5-0 with five unearned runs against Diplan.

Quad Cities added a run against reliever David Lucroy in the top of the fourth inning. Hector Roa drew a walk to start the frame. Arturo Michelena followed with a hit to the gap in left-center that was cutoff to hold Michelena to a single, but Roa kept running and scored all the way from first without a play.

The Rattlers offense got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning. Luis Aviles reached on a leadoff single. Isan Diaz, who had three hits in the game, launched a two-run home run to the Wisconsin bullpen in center. Diaz, who has homered in two straight games, has eight home runs this season for the Rattlers.

The Bandits responded in the top of the sixth on a two-run double by Myles Straw to go back up by six.

Trent Clark got Wisconsin back to within four runs in the bottom of the sixth when he hit a long two-run home run to right.

The Rattlers would outhit the River Bandits 12-9 in the game, but Wisconsin stranded twelve runners in the game and couldn't dig their way out of the early hole.

Wisconsin hosts the River Bandits again on Sunday afternoon. Devin Williams (2-2, 4.35) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Quad Cities has named Justin Ferrell (3-3, 4.33) as their starter. Game time is 1:05pm.

The first 1,000 fans to attend this game will receive a bobblehead of Grammy-nominated local musician and Mile of Music co-founder Cory Chisel from GLK Foods. Fans may play catch on-field courtesy of Rasmussen College starting at noon. During the game, Timber Rattlers players and coaches will be wearing their Brewers Sunday jerseys as part of a Brewers Sunday presented by 107.5, The Fan. Players will be available for a postgame autograph session sponsored by Tundraland.

Additionally, Cory Chisel will also be performing in the Fox Communities Credit Union Fox Club after the game.

The radio broadcast is on 1280 AM, WNAM starting with the pregame show at 12:45pm. The game is also available on the internet through IHeartRadio, TuneIn, and MiLB.TV.