Rattlers edge Peoria for second straight win

PEORIA, IL - Damien Magnifico and Leonard Lorenzo combined to hold the Peoria Chiefs to a run on three hits as the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers offense squeezed out just enough for a 2-1 victory at Peoria Chiefs Stadium on Friday night.  The duo of Rattlers hurlers combined to strike out ten Chiefs batters as the Rattlers won their second straight game to open the 2013 season.

Peoria (0-2) took the lead in the second inning and the ball never left the infield for them to score their run.  Charlie Tilson beat out a bunt up the third base line for a single with one out.  An errant pickoff attempt by Lorenzo allowed Tilson to take second.  Ildemaro Vargas was next and his chopper to third was turned into an out by Alfredo Rodriguez.  But, Tilson broke for third on the throw to first by Rodriguez.  Rattlers first baseman Michael Garza tried to throw back to third to get Tilson.  However, the throw was wild and Tilson scored to put Peoria up 1-0.

The Rattlers (2-0) tied the game in the top of the fourth inning with some situational hitting.  Clint Coulter started the inning with a double.  Garza sent a grounder to the right side of the infield to move Coulter to third.  Chris McFarland knocked in Coulter with the tying run on a sacrifice fly to center.

Wisconsin took the lead in the top of the fifth.  Michael Reed singled and stole second to start the inning.  A bloop single to right by Tyrone Taylor put runners on the corners with no outs.  Peoria went to the bullpen and their reliever got the first out.  Then, Mitch Haniger came through with a fly ball deep to left that scored Reed with the run that put the Rattlers up 2-1.

Magnifico pitched five innings and allowed the one unearned run on three hits.  He walked two and struck out five.  Rattlers reliever Leonard Lorenzo took over in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Lorenzo retired all twelve batters he faced in his four innings of relief to nail down the win.  The right hander out of the Dominican Republic struck out five in his four innings to earn his first professional save.

Game three of the series is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.  Brent Suter is set to be the starting pitcher for the Rattlers.  Peoria has named Tyrell Jenkins as their starter.  Game time is 1:00pm.  Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 12:40pm.