Peoria Scores Early to Beat Wisconsin

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Peoria Chiefs scored six runs in the first four innings and defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 6-2 at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The Chiefs had four doubles and two homers in their early onslaught to take game one of the series.

Peoria (43-67 overall, 13-28 second half) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Edwin Figuera doubled off the wall in left with one out. Brendan Donovan was next and he doubled to left-center to drive in Figuera. Both doubles happened on two-strike pitches.
Wadye Infante put the Chiefs up 2-0 with a lead-off home run in the top of the third. Donovan singled with two outs to keep the inning alive and Brady Whalen followed with a double to right-center to score Donovan for a 3-0 lead.

The Timber Rattlers ( 52-58, 21-20) rallied in the bottom of the third inning for their first run of the game. Antonio Piñero singled and went to second on a ground out. Thomas Dillard singled to knock in Piñero to pull Wisconsin to within two runs.

However, the Chiefs got that run back and a few more in the top of the fourth. Alexis Wilson hit the first pitch of the fourth over the wall in left for a lead-off home run. A walk and a double put runners on second and third with no outs. Ynfante knocked in the runner from third for a 5-1 lead.
Gillaspie walked the next batter to load the bases with no outs. Then, Gillaspie got Figuera to ground into a 6-3 double play. A run scored from third on the twin killing, but Gillaspie had two outs. Then, he walked Donavan on a 3-2 pitch and that ended Gillaspie's day.

Wilfred Salaman took over on the mound and got the final out of the inning.

Brent Díaz appeared to give the Rattlers a jump on a comeback in the bottom of the fourth with a lead-off triple, but Peoria starter Colin Schmid struck out the next two batters and got a fly out to strand Díaz at third base.

Salaman retired all ten Peoria hitters he faced as he held the line, but the Rattlers couldn't dent the plate again with Schmid on the mound.

Schmid left after a one-out single by Kekai Rios in the bottom of the seventh. He allowed one run on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

Two more Rattlers relievers worked perfect innings. Tyler Gillies tossed a 1-2-3 eighth and Victor Castaneda retired the Chiefs in order in the ninth. Timber Rattlers relievers retired the final sixteen Peoria batters they faced in the game.

Wisconsin got a run in the bottom of the ninth inning against reliever Wilfred Pereira.. Díaz singled to start the inning, but was still at first with two outs. Rios got Díaz home when he ripped a double down the line in left. That would be as close as the Rattlers would get.
The series continues on Sunday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Reese Olson (3-6, 5.00) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Peoria plans to send Mike Brettell (4-7, 5.36) to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05pm.

The first 1,000 fans to attend Sunday's game will receive a Whiffer Bobblehead courtesy of Sure-Dry Basement Systems and this one is based on the original Bobble Boy designs. 

Celebrate Wisconsin's NBA team on Milwaukee Bucks Day at the stadium with Bango, the Hoop Troop, and the Bucks Grand Dancers. 

Plus, the Timber Rattlers and Kwik Trip invite you to recognize area Special Olympians before the game.

All fans may play catch on-field courtesy of Rasmussen College starting at noon. Timber Rattlers players and coaches will wear their 2019 Brewers-themed jerseys for this game and the players will be available for a postgame autograph session sponsored by Tundraland.
If you can't make it to the ballpark, there are several ways to catch the action. If you can't make it out to the game, there are several ways to follow the action. Saturday's game will be televised on CW-14 in Northeastern Wisconsin and on My-24 in Southeastern Wisconsin starting at 6:30pm. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM and the TuneIn Radio app starting with the Papa John's Pizza Pregame Show at 6:15pm. MiLB.tv subscribers can watch the game over the internet.