This Date in Timber Rattlers History: July 29

Mariners Exhibition Game rained out, but home run derby saves the day in 1996

Front page of _The Post-Crescent_ Sports Section after home run derby in 1996. (Appleton Post Crescent)

By Chris Mehring

July 29, 2021

July 29, 1996: The Rattlers hosted the Seattle Mariners in what was supposed to be an exhibition game. Rain forced the game to be canceled. HOWEVER, the teams held a home run derby featuring Ken Griffey, Jr. and Alex Rodriguez for the Mariners and David Ortiz for the Timber Rattlers.

2012: The Rattlers won 9–4 at Clinton. Chadwin Stang hit the second pitch of the game out of the park for a home run and the Rattlers added three runs in the second. The LumberKings had climbed to within 5–4 after five innings, but Nick Ramirez cracked a three-run homer in the seventh and an RBI double in the ninth to give Wisconsin more than enough and himself four RBI in the game. Cameron Garfield also homered in the game for the Rattlers.

2014: The Rattlers beat Kane County 3–2 at home. Clint Coulter hit a two-run homer in the second inning for a 2–0 lead. The home run was his 17th of the season for Wisconsin. Omar Garcia drove in the other Rattlers run with a two-out single in the sixth inning. Anthony Banda allowed two hits and struck out seven over five shutout innings for the win. Jacob Rogers hit solo homers in the sixth and eighth innings for the Burlington runs. The finish of the game saw the Bees get a runner on third with one out in the ninth, but Luke Curtis got Carlos Penalver to line into a game-ending 5-unassisted double play with Taylor Brennan making the defensive play.

2015: The Rattlers beat Peoria 4–3 at home. Paul DeJong put Peoria up 2–0 in the top of the first with a two-run homer. Alan Sharkey tied the game for Wisconsin with a two-run homer in the bottom of the second. Kenny Peoples-Walls homered for Peoria in the fifth inning. The Rattlers tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on a two-out, RBI double by Luis Aviles. In the bottom of the ninth, Wisconsin drew three straight walks to load the bases with one out and Francisco Castillo’s walkoff, RBI single won the game.

Click here for the results of every Timber Rattlers game played on July 29.

Chris Tillman (Timber Rattlers, 2007) made his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles in a game against the Kansas City Royals on July 29, 2009.