Timber Rattlers Down Chiefs in Extras

PEORIA, IL– In a game where hits were hard to come by, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers found a timely 10th-inning hit to beat the Chiefs 3-2 on Wednesday afternoon.

With the appointed runner at third base, Jadher Areinamo floated a soft line drive into right field to plate Luis Lara and give Wisconsin a 3-2 lead that Craig Yoho made stand tall in the bottom half of the 10th.

Wisconsin wasted no time getting started Wednesday as they scored in the opening inning. With Gregory Barrios at second, Luke Adams found some space in right field to give Wisconsin an early 1-0 bulge.

Two innings later, Wisconsin tacked on another run against Chiefs starter Brycen Mautz. It was Adams again, this time doubling off the wall in right to extend the lead to 2-0. After navigating some early traffic, Mautz settled in. He retired the final seven batters he faced to work through five innings on Wednesday.

The Peoria bats were held in check by Wisconsin starter Mark Manfredi. The left-hander whiffed eight Peoria batters to tie his career high. Peoria scratched a run in the bottom of the fifth on a Won-Bin Cho groundout to cut the deficit to 2-1. Manfredi departed after five innings in line for the win.

After the bullpens traded zeroes, the Chiefs took advantage of a costly Wisconsin error. With Osvaldo Tovalin at second, Dakota Harris hit a sharp ground ball to third. Adams, who did the majority of the offensive damage for Wisconsin, misfired a throw to first allowing Tovalin to knot the score, 2-2.

The Areinamo RBI in the top of the 10th was enough for Yoho. He recorded a pop out, ground out and a strikeout to end the contest and earn the win. Tanner Jacobson, who surrendered the unearned tally in the top of the inning, was tagged with a tough luck loss.

Game three of the series is set for Thursday evening in Peoria. Former Cardinals first-round pick Cooper Hjerpe will take the ball for the Chiefs. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m.