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Wisconsin sprints past Hot Rods for 6-3 win

Coulter homers, Pitchers combine for 14 Ks
July 16, 2014

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers rallied from a 3-2 deficit to defeat the Bowling Green Hot Rods 6-3 on Wednesday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Clint Coulter homered and drove in three runs for the Rattlers, who won their fourth straight game.

The Timber Rattlers (50-44 overall, 14-11 second half) grabbed the lead with a first inning run. Chris McFarland singled - the first of his four singles on the night - with one out. He went to second on an errant pickoff throw and stole third. Coulter drove McFarland in with a two-out single to left for a 1-0 lead.

Jose Pena launched a two-out, solo home run in the bottom of the second inning to give the Rattlers a 2-0 lead. The homer was the sixth of the season for Pena, but his first since May 28.

Timber Rattlers starting pitcher Tyler Alexander retired the first nine batters he faced. But, he ran into trouble in the top of the fourth.

Julian Ridings and Juniel Querrecuto started the Bowling Green fourth with consecutive singles. Alexander got the first out of the inning with a strikeout, but gave up a single to Ty Young the drove in a run. Armando Araiza drew a walk to load the bases, but Alexander got the second out with another strikeout.

Alexander got ahead of Daryl George 0-2. George fouled off four straight pitches from Alexander before dumping a single into right that scored two runs to put the Hot Rods (42-52, 10-15) up 3-2.

A walk and a pair of Wisconsin errors in the top of the fifth inning loaded the bases for Bowling Green, but Alexander escaped with three strikeouts. The Wisconsin starter set a new professional single-game high for strikeouts with nine. But he trailed 3-2.

Coulter evened the game and got Alexander off the hook for the loss with a solo home run to start the bottom of the sixth. Coulter, who also homered in Monday's game, has fifteen home runs this season for Wisconsin.

Taylor Brennan was next and his fly ball to center was misjudged and dropped in for a double. Omar Garcia bunted Brennan over to third. Dustin DeMuth lined a single to left over the drawn-in infield to send Brennan home with the run that put the Rattlers up 4-3.

Wisconsin loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning on singles by Johnny Davis and Chris McFarland and an intentional walk to Michael Ratterree. That brought Coulter to the plate and he drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch to force in Davis for a 5-3 lead. Coulter's three RBI on the night gives him 61 RBI for the season.

The Timber Rattlers tacked on one more run in the eighth for a 6-3 lead. Garcia reached on a bunt single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by DeMuth. Garcia stole third, his 34th stolen base of the season, and scored when the throw to get him went into left field.

Taylor Williams came on to relieve Alexander in the top of the sixth and tossed four scoreless innings without issuing a walk. Williams pitched around five hits and struck out five to earn his seventh win of the season. Williams is 6-0 with two saves and a no decision in his last nine appearances.

Wisconsin's offense matched their season high for hits in a game with fourteen. The Timber Rattlers have reached double digits in hits four times in the first five games of this ten-game homestand.

Game two of the series is Thursday night. Preston Gainey (2-5, 3.79) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Chris Kirsch (4-6, 3.04) is set to start for the Hot Rods. Game time is 7:05pm.

Avenue Jewelers and the Timber Rattlers present Ladies Night with lots of special samples of cheese, chocolate, and Barefoot Wine for the ladies on Thursday. A special auction to Win a Date with a Timber Rattler will be held during the game with the proceeds to benefit Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services. One lucky fan will walk away from a Diamond Dig during the game with a diamond from Avenue Jewelers.

Thirsty Thursday presented by Arty's Old Fashioned and 95.9 KISS FM means 21-oz Pepsi products, 16-oz Miller products, or Arty's Old Fashioned drinks for just $2. 

If you can't make it out to the ballpark, tune in for the broadcast on television, radio, or the internet. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel will have the television broadcast starting at 7:00pm. The radio call may be heard on AM1280, WNAM or IHeartRadio starting at 6:45pm. Subscribers to MiLB.TV can catch the action, too.

HOME RUNS:
WIS:

Jose Pena (6th, 0 on in 2nd inning off Ben Griset, 2 out)
Clint Coulter (15th, 0 on in 6th inning off William Gabay, 0 out)

WP: Taylor Williams (7-1)
LP: William Gabay (1-1)

TIME: 3:02
ATTN: 5,419