Rattlers sprint past Bees with five-run sixth inning
GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers broke a 1-1 tie with five runs in the sixth inning and went on to defeat the Burlington Bees 6-1 Saturday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Wisconsin pitcher Taylor Williams allowed a run over six innings to earn his fifth straight victory.
Taylor Brennan hit the first pitch of the bottom of the second inning over the wall in left for a home run. The homer, Brennan's eighth of the season, gave Wisconsin (42-36 overall, 6-3 second half) a 1-0 lead. That was the only run the Rattlers would get against Burlington starter Victor Alcantara, who went five innings and allowed just two hits while striking out six.
Burlington (42-36, 4-5) had two hits off Williams through five innings and hadn't threatened to score. Then, Angel Rosa launched a home run to left to start the top of the sixth inning and the game was tied. Mike Fish followed with a single. Williams got the first out of the inning on a force play at second and escaped the frame when he got Brandon Bayardi to ground into a 4-6-3 double play.
Wisconsin responded in a big way in the bottom of the sixth against reliever Grant Gordon. Omar Garcia started the inning with a single and stole second. Michael Ratterree worked the count to 3-2 and drove an offering from Gordon to the left-center field game to drive in Garcia for a 2-1 lead.
Clint Coulter jumped on the next pitch and hammered his thirteenth home run of the season well over the wall in left. The homer snapped an 0-for-14 streak for Coulter and put Wisconsin up 4-1.
The inning continued as Gordon walked Brennan and Rafael Neda before being replaced by Alex Blackford with runners at first and second with no outs.
Blackford would get out of the inning, but not before he threw three wild pitches to eventually score both Brennan and Neda for a 6-1 lead.
Tyler Alexander took over for Taylor Williams and struck out four over two perfect innings.
Trevor Seidenberger came on to pitch the top of the ninth and he worked around a leadoff single with a double play and a strikeout to close out the game.
Game three of the series is Sunday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Game time is 1:05pm. Preston Gainey (2-4, 4.03) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Harrison Cooney (5-3, 2.20) is set to take the mound for the Bees.
Bernie Carbo, a former Milwaukee Brewer and one of Boston's heroes from Game Six of the 1975 World Series, will be on hand as part of Faith Day and Brewers Sunday. The gates to the ballpark will open at 10:00am for a special on field service from 10:30am to 11:30am. Brakebush Chicken, The Family 91.9 and Lifefest present a postgame concert by The Neverclaim in the Fox Communities Credit Union Fox Club. Timber Rattlers players and coaches will be wearing gold Rattlers jerseys based on the design of the Milwaukee Brewers for Brewers Sunday presented by 107.5, The Fan.
Fans can play catch on-field courtesy of Rasmussen College before the Rattlers game and all Timber Rattlers players will be available for an autograph session after the game.
If you can't make it out to the ballpark, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or IHeartRadio starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 12:45pm. Sunday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.
HOME RUNS:
BUR:
Angel Rosa (5th, 0 on in 6th inning off Taylor Williams, 0 out)
WIS:
Taylor Brennan (8th, 0 on in 2nd inning off Victor Alcantara, 0 out)
Clint Coulter (13th, 1 on in 6th inning off Grant Gordon, 0 out)
WP: Taylor Williams (6-1)
LP: Grant Gordon (1-2)
TIME: 2:42
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