Timber Rattlers stopped by Chiefs and themselves
GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Peoria Chiefs seemed to take advantage of every Wisconsin Timber Rattlers miscue on Saturday night at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The Chiefs also delivered some key hits on their way to an 8-1 victory over the Rattlers. Wisconsin committed four errors that led to four unearned runs for the Chiefs in the game.
The Timber Rattlers (23-28) had a chance for a big inning in the bottom of the first. Michael Reed singled and Orlando Arcia followed with a hit-and-run single to put runners on the corners with no outs. But, Wisconsin did not score in the frame.
Wisconsin had two outs and none on in the bottom of the third inning. Tyrone Taylor singled to keep the inning alive. Then, Max Walla cracked a double to right to score Taylor for a 1-0 lead.
Peoria (29-24) responded - with help from the Rattlers - in the top of the fourth. Ildemaro Vargas singled and Jacob Wilson was hit by a pitch. Jordan Walton bunted up the third base line and Rattlers pitcher Austin Blaski fielded the bunt, but his throw to third sailed down the left field line. By the time the ball was corralled in the corner, two runs had scored and the Chiefs were up 2-1.
Blaski had runners at first and third with two outs in the top of the fifth, but struggled to get the third out. Wilson, Walton, and Patrick Wisdom hit consecutive RBI singles with two outs to push Peoria's lead to 5-1.
The Chiefs had Adam Ehrlich at first with two outs and Blaski made a pitch to get out of the inning, but an error on the grounder to second kept the inning alive. Blaski made another pitch to get out of the inning, but a popup about 25 feet up the third baseline from home plate was dropped. That allowed Ehrlich to score from second base and make it 6-1 in favor of Peoria.
Joe Cuda allowed scattered seven hits over six innings and allowed the one run. He also struck out six while walking just one.
Peoria scored a run in the top of the eighth inning on a two-out error and tacked on one more in the ninth on an RBI double by Breyvic Valera.
The series continues on Sunday afternoon. Jorge Lopez (1-4, 9.24) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Peoria plans to put Hector Hernandez on the mound. Game time is 1:05pm.
The left field berm will be set aside for pets and their owners on Sunday as part of the 5th annual Bark in the Park presented by Invisible Fence by Golrusk, an Invisible Fence Brand authorized dealer, and Golrusk Pet Care Center. Tickets are $5 for owners and free for dogs. Click this link for full details on the event.
It's a Brewers Sunday presented by 107.5, The Fan, too. Timber Rattlers players will wear Brewers-themed jerseys during the game.
Fans may play catch on-field before the game and get autographs from the players in a post-game autograph session. Time Warner Cable customers receive up to four half-priced reserved bleacher tickets when showing their TWC bill at time of ticket purchase.
Plus, Miller Summer Kickoff continues with Miller Beer products available for $1.
If you can't make it out to the stadium, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 12:45pm. Sunday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.
WP: Joe Cuda (3-3)
LP: Austin Blaski (2-2)
TIME: 2:41 (1:26 delay)
ATTN: 4,867