Clinton Clips Wisconsin With Early Runs

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Clinton LumberKings grabbed an early lead over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Wednesday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The early 5-0 advantage was enough for the LumberKings as they held on for a 5-3 win. It was the second night in a row in which the LumberKings converted an early lead into a win over the Rattlers.

Wisconsin starting pitcher Scott Sunitsch got himself in trouble with one out in the top of the third inning as he hit two batters and walked one to load the bases. JD Osborne drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch to force in a run and the LumberKings were up 1-0. Sunitsch bounced back to get a strikeout for the second out of the inning and he got ahead of Bubba Hollins, the next hitter for Clinton, with two quick strikes. However, Hollins lined a double just fair inside the line in right on the next pitch to score all three runners and the LumberKings were up 4-0.

Clinton (58-49 overall, 29-13 second half) added another run in the fourth inning as they loaded the bases against Sunitsch on a single and two walks. Reliever Peter Strzelecki entered the game for Sunitsch with the bases loaded and one out. He gave up a sacrifice fly to Peyton Burdick that let one run score, but that was it for the LumberKings in the fourth.

The Rattlers (51-56, 20-18) struggled to get anything going against Clinton starting pitcher Alberto Guerrero. Yeison Coca doubled to start the Wisconsin first inning. Then, Guerrero retired the next fifteen Timber Rattlers in a row. Chad McClanahan broke up that streak with lead-off single in the bottom of the sixth inning. Guerrero kept McClanahan at first base by retiring the next three batters to send the game to the seventh.

In the bottom of the seventh, Guerrero retired the first two batters, but he could not find the third out of the inning. Connor McVey singled and Je'Von Ward walked to keep the inning alive. That brought Antonio Piñero to the plate .

Piñero worked the count full and crushed the payoff pitch from Guerrero off the videoboard above the wall in left-center for a three-run home run. That was all for Guerrero as he left after making his 102^nd pitch of the game.

Wisconsin did bring the tying run to the plate in the eighth and ninth innings against reliever Elkin Alcala. Jesús Lujano singled with two outs in the eighth and Thomas Dillard singled to start the ninth, but the offense could not convert the opportunities into runs.

Three Timber Rattlers relievers combined to pitch 5-2/3 scoreless innings. Strzelecki worked 1-2/3 innings without allowing a run of his own. Tyler Gillies and Luis Contreras each worked two scoreless frames out of the bullpen.

Game three of the series is Thursday night at Neuroscience Group Field. Adam Hill (6-7, 4.22) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. The LumberKings have named George Soriano (3-7, 4.32) as their starter. First pitch is 7:05pm.
The Timber Rattlers and AZCO, INC are celebrating special anniversaries this season. This year is the 25^th anniversary season of Timber Rattlers baseball and the 70^th anniversary of the start of AZCO, INC. To commemorate these anniversaries, the Rattlers and AZCO have produced a souvenir cup and the first 1,000 fans to attend Thursday's game will receive it. 

Everyone to attend this game may enjoy Cher-Make brats for $2 and those of legal drinking age may have a variety of craft brews for $2 as part of a Craft Brews & Brats Night presented by Fox River Brewing Company and 105.7 WAPL.

If you can't make it out to the ballpark, the radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM and the TuneIn Radio app starting with the Papa John's Pizza Pregame Show at 6:45pm. MiLB.tv subscribers can watch the game over the internet.