Rattlers win big in return home

GRAND CHUTE, WI - Preston Gainey allowed one hit over seven scoreless inning as the Wisconsin offense stayed on their roll in a 9-1 defeat over the Clinton LumberKings at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium on Wednesday night. This was the first game of a six game homestand for the Timber Rattlers after they went 1-5 on a six game road trip.

Wisconsin (42-54 overall, 13-18 second half) took the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Max Walla started the inning with a double to right. Tyler Roberts followed with a double to left-center to score Walla. Orlando Arcia was next and he blooped a triple just fair down the line in right to drive in Roberts. Arcia scored later in the inning when Michael Reed grounded into a 5-4-3 double play with runners on the corners and no outs.

The Rattlers added on in the fifth inning. Mike Garza doubled with one out and Parker Berberet singled to left to drive in Garza for a 4-0 lead.

Arcia singled in the fifth inning, stole second, and went to third on a grounder. He scored on a wild pitch with two outs to make it 5-0.

Gainey, walked three and struck out one as he set his professional high for innings pitched. The only hit he gave up was a two-out single by Dario Pizzano in the top of the first. He walked Marcus Littlewood to start the second inning and retired the next twelve batters in a row. Gainey walked Janelfry Zorilla to start the sixth inning, but erased him on a double play. In the seventh, Littlewood walked with two outs. Then, Gainey struck out Taylor Ard to end the inning.

Wisconsin added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh. Max Walla scored from third on a wild pitch for the first run. Later in the frame, Victor Roache drew a bases loaded walk to force in a run to make the score 7-0.

Clinton (47-53, 14-17) scored an unearned run off Ryan Gibbard in the top of the eighth. Gaby Guerrero reached on an error to start the inning. Jordy Lara followed with a double to right-center. Guerrero scored on the play, but Lara was out trying to stretch his hit into a triple.

The Rattlers tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the eighth. Walla scored on an error for the first tally. Tyrone Taylor was at the plate with the bases loaded and was hit by a pitch to force in a run to account for the final score.

Wisconsin had ten hits on Wednesday night, their third straight game with ten or more hits.

Game two of the series is Thursday night. Eric Semmelhack (1-5, 5.23) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Clinton has Scott DeCecco (7-7, 4.46) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 7:05pm.

You won't need eggnog and a Yule Log to stay warm with this Christmas celebration with the annual Christmas in July. The first 1,000 fans to enter the stadium will receive a nutcracker to get them in the holiday spirit from Principal Financial Group. Plus, The Principal Financial Dreams Tour will be making a stop in the parking lot. Stop by to see this traveling interactive display. Fans can enjoy 16oz soda, beer, or Arty's Old Fashioned drinks for just $2 as part of Thirsty Thursday presented by Arty's Old Fashioned and 95.9 KISS FM.

Stick around after the game for a special Thursday night fireworks display courtesy of ExxonMobil.

If you can't make it out to the stadium, catch the television broadcast on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel. The radio broadcast can be heard on AM1280, WNAM or IHeartRadio starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:45pm. Subscribers of MiLB.TV may also catch the action.

WP: Preston Gainey (4-5)
LP: Rigoberto Garcia (0-2)

TIME: 2:42
ATTN: 5,153