Rattlers drop final game of series to Peoria

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Peoria Chiefs defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 11-7 Monday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Jordan Walton had three this and four RBI to help Peoria build an insurmountable lead early in the game.

The teams traded runs in the first inning. Breyvic Valera doubled to start the game for Peoria. Ildemaro Vargas bunted for a sacrifice, but there was a miscommunication on the bunt defense and the throw to first went down the right field line to let Valera score. The Rattlers answered when Tyrone Taylor drove in Michael Reed with a single in the bottom of the inning.

The Chiefs (30-25) pushed back in front with three runs in the top of the second inning. They had runners on first and third with one out and Gerwuins Velazco drove in the go ahead run with a sacrifice fly. Valera followed with a two-out, two-run triple for a 4-1 lead.

Wisconsin (24-29) cut the Peoria lead back to one with single runs in the second and third innings. Mike Garza tripled to start the second. Max Walla picked up an RBI with a ground out that scored Garza. Adam Giacalone drove in Reed with a two out single in the third and the Rattlers trailed 4-3.

But, Peoria scored five times in the top of the fourth inning to take control of the game. Rattlers starting pitcher Preston Gainey walked the first two batters of the inning and was replaced by Taylor Wall. Velazco was asked to bunt the runners along, but got more than he was expecting. The bunt to third was fielded cleanly, but the throw to first bounced into right field   A run scored on the play. Then, Valera followed with an RBI single and the Chiefs were just getting started.

A sacrifice bunt by Vargas moved both Velazco and Valera up a base. Wall walked Jacob Wilson intentionally to load the bases and set up a possible inning ending double play. Jordan Walton foiled that plan by dropping a single in to short right to drove in two runs. The play also put runners on the corners with one out. Wall retired the next batter for the second out and had an 0-2 count on Jeremy Schaffer. Then, Wall - a left-hander - bluffed a throw to third base. Due to a rule change this past offseason, pitchers may no longer bluff to third. The play was ruled a balk and Wilson trotted home with the run that made it 9-3.

Peoria starting pitcher Silfredo Garcia allowed three runs on six hits, walked one, and struck out six over seven innings on Monday to pick up his second win of the year.

The Chiefs tacked on two more runs with two outs in the eighth inning. Walton doubled to drive in Vargas and Wilson for an 11-3 lead.

Wisconsin scraped for some runs late to get close. Victor Roache single and took second on a wild pitch with one out in the eighth. Garza singled him home. In the ninth, Orlando Arcia singled with two outs to knock in Brent Dean. Tyrone Taylor followed with an infield single, his second hit of the game, to extend the game. Giacalone struck out put the ball got away from the Peoria catcher to let Giacalone reach and Arcia score from third base. Roache kept the rally going with a single to drive in Taylor but 11-7 was as close as the Rattlers would get.

Peoria took three of four from the Rattlers in this series and leads the season series 7-4.

The Timber Rattlers are off on Tuesday and return to action against the Beloit Snappers on Wednesday night against the Beloit Snappers. Tyler Wagner (5-3, 2.88) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Austin House (0-4, 3.62) is set to start for the Snappers. Game time on Wednesday is 7:05pm.

Area teachers may claim a complimentary ticket by contacting the group sales department before the game as part of Educator Appreciation Night presented by Bubrick's Complete Office. Click this link for full details on Educator Appreciation Night.

Also, enjoy Cher-Make hotdogs, Pepsi products, and Miller beer for $1 on a WIXX Bang for Your Buck Night.

If you can't make it out to the stadium, tune in for the television broadcast on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel. The radio call is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:45pm. The game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.

WP: Silfredo Garcia (2-1)
LP: Preston Gainey (1-5)

TIME: 3:09
ATTN: 3,651