Rattlers beat Chiefs 11-7 in wild 11-inning game
PEORIA, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers picked up a wild, 11-7 victory in eleven innings over the Peoria Chiefs Saturday night at Dozer Park. The win gave the Timber Rattlers the season series - and with it the tie-breaker - over the Chiefs and pushed their lead in the second half Western Division Wild Card race back out to two games over the Chiefs. But, it was a long and twisting road with a few wrong turns in it before the Rattlers got to their destination.
Wisconsin (68-62 overall, 32-29 second half) grabbed the lead in the second inning. Clint Coulter reached on a leadoff single to start the inning. Taylor Brennan was next and fell behind 0-2. Brennan fouled off two more pitches before lining a no doubt home run to left-center to put the Rattlers up 2-0.
The Timber Rattlers added to their lead in the third inning. Paul Eshleman reached on an error and Chris McFarland doubled to right-center to put runners on second and third. Michael Ratterree knocked both runners in with a sharp single to left for a 4-0 advantage.
McFarland made it 5-0 with a two-out, RBI double to left that scored Jose Pena.
Wisconsin starting pitcher Zach Quintana faced the minimum without allowing a hit in his first three innings. But, the Chiefs charged back in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game on six straight hits.
CJ McElroy, Jr., Richy Pedroza, and Justin Ringo started the rally with singles to load the bases. Carson Kelly followed with a single to drive in McElroy. Rowan Wick was next and he doubled to right to score Pedroza and Ringo. Ronald Castillo tied the game with a two-run single to right.
Controversy turned up in the top of the fifth inning. The Timber Rattlers had runners at first and second with two outs and Sthervin Matos at the plate. Matos hooked a line drive to the left field corner that appeared to hit the foul pole below the yellow line. Plate umpire Ryan Doherty ruled it a fair ball for a two-run double for Matos.
Then, Peoria manager Joe Kruzel came out to argue and got Doherty to discuss the call with base umpire Richard Riley. After the consultation between the crew, the call was overturned and ruled a foul ball. Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson was not happy. Erickson, who was stationed at the third base coaching box, made his displeasure known to both umpires before he was ejected.
Play would eventually restart and Matos would reach when the Chiefs (67-62, 30-31) messed up a force play at second. But, the game would remain tied as the Rattlers left the bases loaded in the fifth.
Wisconsin went back in front in the top of the sixth inning. Eshleman and McFarland drew walks with one out. Ratterree lined a two-out single to center to score Eshleman and the Rattlers were up 6-5.
McFarland provided the Rattlers with some insurance in the eighth inning. Jose Pena doubled to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt by Eshleman moved Pena to third. McFarland hit a sacrifice fly deep enough to left field to knock in Pena with a run to make it 7-5.
But, the Chiefs rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth. Ringo started the inning with a single off Chad Thompson. Wick reached on an infield single with one out. A throwing error on the play allowed Ringo to take third base. Castillo was next and he hit a ball to almost the exact spot that Matos did in the fifth inning. This ball was ruled a fair ball and an RBI double to score Ringo and send Wick to third base.
Chris Razo entered the game in place of Thompson and got Luis Perez to send a grounder to third. Wick took off for home and was out on a throw from Matos, but Castillo took third on the play. The next pitch from Razo was wild and Castillo scored to tie the game 7-7.
Wisconsin went back in front in the top of the eleventh and by the time the inning was over, Kruzel had been ejected, too.
Coulter started the inning with a double off the top of the wall in left field near the foul pole again. Brennan was next and hit a slow grounder to short for an infield single. Coulter gambled that he could make it to third and got in when Medina dropped the throw on a close play. Denson delivered Coulter across the plate with a line single to left and Wisconsin was up 8-7.
Johnny Davis chopped a single to left as the Chiefs charged for a bunt and that loaded the bases. Pena hit a fly ball to left-center that was deep enough for Brennan to score, Denson to take third, and Davis to move to second. Eshleman was next and he lined a single to right on an 0-2 pitch to score Denson for a 10-7 lead.
The play that set Kruzel off was a grounder to second baseman Michael Schulze with the infield in to try and get Davis at the plate. McFarland's high bouncer hit right at Schulze, who came home with the throw. But, the throw was high and Davis got in under the tag with a head-first dive and Wisconsin was up 11-7.
Kruzel disagreed. He argued until he was ejected and then kicked dirt on home plate before leaving the field.
Razo, who had pitched a scoreless ninth and a scoreless tenth, got the first out of the eleventh. Then, Medina singled and Schulze reached on an error to bring McElroy back to the plate.
The speedy leadoff hitter for the Chiefs hit a hard, one-hopper to Brennan at third. He fielded it cleanly and threw a strike to McFarland at second for the out on Schulze. McFarland turned a fired to Denson at first to beat McElroy for the game-ending, around-the-horn double play.
The Timber Rattlers return to Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium on Sunday to begin their final homestand of the regular season. Game one of the homestand is against the Beloit Snappers at 5:05pm. Preston Gainey (5-7, 4.22) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Matt Stalcup (5-4, 4.02) is set to go for the Snappers.
If you missed Opening Night of the 2014 season, you have another chance to receive the Scooter Gennett bobblehead presented by Pepsi and Cher-Make on this rescheduled giveaway by being one of the first 1,000 fans to enter the stadium on Sunday.
Meet some of the members of the 1964 Fox Cities Foxes as they will be returning for a 50th anniversary reunion of their Midwest League Championship. Fans can also get on the field before the game to play catch courtesy of Rasmussen College. Play Baseball Bingo during the game to win great prizes courtesy of Potawatomi Bingo Casino. Timber Rattlers players will be available for a postgame autograph session.
Plus, start making plans for 2015. The first 1,000 fans will receive a 2015 Magnet Schedule courtesy of Lappen Security Products.
If you can't make it out to the ballpark, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280 or IHeartRadio starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 4:45pm. Sunday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.
HOME RUN:
WIS:
Taylor Brennan (13th, 1 on in 2nd inning off Kyle Helisek, 0 out)
WP: Razo (2-1)
LP: Stock (1-3)
TIME: 3:38
ATTN: 6,171