Wagner leads Wisconsin to second straight win
GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers scored just enough runs to backup Tyler Wagner's pitching in a 5-3 win over the Kane County Cougars Tuesday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Wagner earned his seventh win of the season with the longest start of his professional career as the Rattlers won for the third time in their last four games.
The Cougars (32-46 overall, 2-10 second half) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Jeimer Candelario hit a two-run home run with two outs to give Kane County the lead. Wagner had allowed three hits in the inning, but only gave up the two runs.
Wisconsin (33-44 4-8) immediately tied the game in the bottom of the first thank to the generosity of the Kane County defense. Michael Reed reached on an error with one out. Tyrone Taylor dropped a bunt single up the third base line and both runners advanced one base on a throwing error. Victor Roache knocked in Reed with a grounder to short. Mike Garza tied the game with a triple to right-center to send Taylor home.
Garza figured into the play that gave the Timber Rattlers the lead in the bottom of the fourth. He singled to lead off the fourth inning. Orlando Arcia tripled to right with one out to get Garza home for a 3-2 lead.
Arcia would try score on a grounder to short with the infield pulled in on the grass later in the inning. The throw home beat Arcia by a lot and he slid awkwardly into the shin guard of catcher Carlos Escobar. Arcia was helped off the field as he favored his right ankle. He had the ankle X-rayed after he was take out of the game. Arcia will be re-evaluated on Wednesday.
Wagner took the lead and ran with it. At one point in the game, the Rattlers right-hander retired 16 straight Kane County batters. The streak ended with a one out walk in the seventh, but Wagner pitched around that walk and another walk in the eighth inning.
The Rattlers added some insurance in the bottom of the seventh inning. Tyler Roberts and Alfredo Rodriguez drew walks against Kane County starter Tayler Scott in the top of the seventh. Reed greeted Kane County reliever Sheldon McDonald with two-run double for a 5-2 Wisconsin lead.
Wagner, Milwaukee's fourth round pick in the 2012 draft, went back out for the ninth inning, but walked Dan Vogelbach on four pitches and got Candelario ground into a force play at season. Candelario stole second and scored on a single to right by Marco Hernandez. That hit - the first by a Cougar since the second inning - knocked Wagner out of the game as he had reached 103 pitches on the final offering to Hernandez. He went 8-1/3 innings, walked three, struck out three, and allowed five hits in the longest start of his professional career.
Jono Armold entered the game and promptly induced Wilson Contreras to ground into a game-ending 4-6-3 double play. The twin killing sealed Wisconsin's second straight win and Armold's first professional save.
The final game of the five game series is set for Wednesday night. Jorge Lopez (3-6, 5.91) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Kane County has Michael Heesch (3-6, 3.52) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 7:05pm.
Wednesday is a Bang for Your Buck Night with WIXX which means $1 Cher-Make hot dogs, $1 Pepsi Products, and $1 Miller Beers! Plus, celebrate Independence Day early with a patriotic postgame fireworks display!
If you can't make it out to the game, tune in for the television broadcast on My NEW32's Sports Showdown starting with the pregame show at 6:30pm. The radio broadcast may be heard on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:45pm. Wednesday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.
HOME RUN:
KC: Jeimer Candelario (4th, 1 on in 1st inning off Tyler Wagner, 2 out)
WP: Tyler Wagner (7-6)
LP: Tayler Scott (4-3)
SAVE: Jono Armold (1)
TIME: 2:17
ATTN: 2,587