Bowling Green beats Rattlers 6-2 to take series
GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Bowling Green Hot Rods rode a four-run third inning to a 6-2 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Friday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The Rattlers dropped their second straight game to the Hot Rods to drop the three game series to their Eastern Division opponents.
Bowling Green (44-52 overall, 12-15 second half) loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the third inning against Wisconsin starting pitcher Victor Diaz. Julian Ridings doubled to left-center to drive in the first two runs of the game. Kean Wong followed with a sacrifice fly to left. Ty Young got the final run of the frame home with a two-out single to center to drive in Ridings for a 4-0 lead.
Daryl George hit the first pitch of the top of the fourth inning over the wall for a home run and a 5-0 advantage.
Wisconsin (50-46, 14-13) had trouble putting the ball in play against Bowling Green starter German Marquez. The right-hander struck out eight of the first nine Timber Rattlers batters he faced. Marquez faced the minimum through the first four innings despite allowing a single and a hit batsman thanks to a caught stealing and a double play.
The Rattlers broke through in the bottom of the fifth. Clint Coulter extended his current hitting streak to seven games with a leadoff single. David Denson followed with a single and Taylor Brennan drew a walk to load the bases. Dustin DeMuth also drew a walk and that forced in a run. Marquez got Jose Pena to ground into a 6-4-3 double play that allowed Denson to score. The inning ended on a strikeout but the Rattlers had pulled to within 5-2.
Bowling Green added an unearned run against reliever Tyler Spurlin in the top of the sixth. George drew a walk and went to second on a grounder. He scored on an error with two outs and the Hot Rods were up 6-2.
Wisconsin tried to rally against Bradley Schreiber in the bottom of the seventh. Brennan singled with one out to extend his hitting streak to a season high eight games. DeMuth followed with a double to put runners on second and third. But, the strikeout bug bit the Rattlers again as Schreiber struck out the next two batters of the inning to end the last Wisconsin scoring opportunity of the game.
Anthony Banda pitched three scoreless innings of relief for the Rattlers to give the offense a chance to rally, but it didn't happen.
Schreiber worked a 1-2-3 eighth and Andrew Hanse pitched a perfect ninth to close out the Rattlers.
Wisconsin hitter struck out fifteen times on Friday night. That's the most times they have struck out in a game this season. Marquez had nine punchouts in five innings. Schreiber collected five in three innings. Hanse got one in his lone inning of work.
The homestand continues on Saturday night with a game against the Dayton Dragons. Tristan Archer (3-4, 4.12) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Dayton sends Nick Travieso (7-5, 4.05) to the mound. Game time is 6:35pm.
The first 1,000 fans to enter the stadium will receive either Red Vines or Fruit Vines from Super Ropes for the Christmas Candy Bonanza. There will be carols, decorations, and Santa, too. Look for the sand castle contest on the Super Ropes Beach and plenty of candy surprises during the game and a postgame fireworks display presented by FOX 11 that will satisfy your sweet tooth.
If you can't make it out to the ballpark, tune into the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or IHeartRadio starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. The game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.
HOME RUN:
BG:
Daryl George (4th, 0 on in 4th inning off Victor Diaz, 0 out)
WP: German Marquez (3-5)
LP: Victor Diaz (3-4)
TIME: 2:33
ATTN: 3,275