BURLINGTON, IA - The deficit was too big for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Tuesday night against the Burlington Bees at Community Field. The Bees got the Timber Rattlers down by seven runs and held off a Wisconsin rally for an 8-5 win in game one of the three-day, five-game
BURLINGTON, IA - The deficit was too big for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Tuesday night against the Burlington Bees at Community Field. The Bees got the Timber Rattlers down by seven runs and held off a Wisconsin rally for an 8-5 win in game one of the three-day, five-game series.
Burlington (26-36) took the lead with four runs in the bottom of the third inning. Jahmai Jones drove in the first run of the inning with a double. An errant throw on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Jack Kruger allowed Jones to score. Later in the inning Julian Leon had an RBI single and Brennan Morgan had an RBI triple for the 4-0 lead.
The Bees pushed their lead to 6-0 with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. The first run scored on a wild pitch by Rattlers starting pitcher Thomas Jankins. The second scored on an RBI single by Kruger.
Ronnie Gideon got the Timber Rattlers (26-35) on the scoreboard with a leadoff homer in the fifth. The homer was the sixth of the season for Gideon and the Rattlers were down 6-1.
But, Burlington added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jones started the inning with a single, his third hit of the game. It appeared he would be erased on an inning-ending double play off the bat of Keith Grieshaber, but Wisconsin reliever Colton Cross had been called for a balk to allow Jones to take second and Grieshaber to get another swing. That swing turned into a grounder that was misplayed for an error to put runners at the corners. Then, Cross uncorked a wild pitch and Jones scored. Another Rattler error on the next ball put into play would let Grieshaber score and the Bees were up 8-1.
Wisconsin put together a four-run rally in the top of the seventh inning to get close. Tucker Neuhaus lined a homer, his ninth of the season, to right to start the frame. Trey York walked with one out and would get to third on a pair of wild pitches by reliever Sam Pastrone. Then, Gilbert Lara tripled to drive in York and the Rattlers were within 8-3.
Jose Cuas brought the Rattlers a little closer with an RBI single to score Lara. Demi Orimoloye kept the inning going with a walk to knock Pastrone out of the game.
Ty Barkell got the second out of the inning on an infield grounder that moved both runners into scoring position. Barkell would throw a wild pitch to let Cuas score and Wisconsin had pulled to within 8-5.
However, that is as close as the Rattlers would get in the game. Barkell would end the seventh on a flyout to center. He gave up a single in both the eighth and ninth innings, but the Rattlers couldn't get the tying run to the plate against him.
The Rattlers and Bees are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Wednesday at Community Field. Braden Webb (2-4, 5.18) is set to start game one and Cameron Roegner (4-1, 4.95) is scheduled to start game two for Wisconsin. Burlington has named Andrew Vinson (3-6, 6.50) as their starter for game one, but they have not named a game two starter. The first pitch for game one is scheduled for 5:00pm.
The radio broadcast of Wednesday's doubleheader is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Pregame Show at 4:40pm. The broadcast is also available on TuneIn Radio and IHeartRadio.
