Rattlers rally late to edge Kane County
GRAND CHUTE, WI - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers catcher Parker Berberet hit a two-run home run with two outs in the seventh inning to tie Monday's game with the Kane County Cougars. Victor Roache drove in the go ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth and the Rattlers held on for a 4-3 win at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium.
Tyrone Taylor put Wisconsin (32-44 overall, 3-8 second half) in front and extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a double in the first inning.
The Cougars (32-45, 2-9) put their first two hitters on base in the top of the third on a single and an error. It looked like Rattlers starting pitcher Eric Semmelhack would get out of the inning as he retired the next two Kane County hitters to . However, Oliver Zapata tripled to right-center with two outs to drive in both runs to put Kane County in front 2-1.
Albert Almora doubled to start the top of the third inning for Kane County and he moved to third on a ground out to the right side of the infield. Semmelhack got the second out and kept Almora at third base. But, Marco Hernandez drove in Almora with a single through the right side of the infield to push Kane County's lead to 3-1.
Kane County starter Jose Rosario cruised through the middle innings with that two run lead and retired the first two batters in the bottom of the seventh inning. But, Rosario walked Adam Giacalone on four pitches to bring Berberet to the plate. The Rattlers catcher jumped on the first pitch of the at bat and lined a two-run homer over the wall in left center to tie the game 3-3.
Rattlers reliever Martin Viramontes took over for Semmelhack in the top of the eighth inning and pitched a quick 1-2-3 frame to get the Wisconsin bats back in action.
Justin Amlung took over for Rosario in the bottom of the eighth inning and walked Alfredo Rodriguez to start the inning. Orlando Arcia was next and he sent a grounder towards right. Second baseman Gioskar Amaya cut off the ball before it got to the outfield and whirled to throw to second to get the lead runner. But his throw was wild to allow Rodriguez to take third and Arcia to move to second. The Cougars elected to walk Taylor to load the bases and set up a force at the plate.
Roache foiled the plan with a sacrifice fly to left that drove in Rodriguez with the go ahead run.
Viramontes tossed a perfect top of the ninth to nail down the Rattlers victory.
Semmelhack allowed one earned run and struck out four over seven innings. His seven innings matched the longest start of his professional career and was his fifth quality start of the season.
The first three games of this five game series between Wisconsin and Kane County have all been decided by a single run. Wisconsin has won two of the first three games.
Game four of the five game series is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. Tyler Wagner (6-6, 3.48) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Kane County has Tayler Scott (4-2, 4.09) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 12:05pm.
The first 1,000 fans to attend the game will receive a poster of Timber Rattlers All-Star Pitcher Austin Blaski courtesy of Dunkin Donuts. This is poster number seven in a series of ten for the 2013 season.
Show your business card when you purchase a ticket and for $11.50 you will receive a box seat ticket, a beverage and your choice of brat or hot dog. The offer is also available to senior citizens (55 & older) courtesy of Baker Tilly, WVBO, and AM1280 WNAM.
If you can't make it out to the ballpark, Time Warner Cable SportsChannel will have the television broadcast. The radio broadcast is available on AM1280, WNAM and timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 11:45am. Tuesday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.
HOME RUN:
WIS:
Parker Berberet (3rd, 1 on in 7th inning off Jose Rosario, 2 out)
WP: Martin Viramontes (1-1)
LP: Justin Amlung (3-3)
TIME: 2:11
ATTN: 3,883