BURLINGTON, IA - The Burlington Bees edged the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 3-2 at Community Field on Tuesday night. The Rattlers had the early advantage and some late opportunities, but wound up dropping their second straight game.Pat McInerney gave the Timber Rattlers (31-34) the lead with an opposite-field home run in
BURLINGTON, IA - The Burlington Bees edged the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 3-2 at Community Field on Tuesday night. The Rattlers had the early advantage and some late opportunities, but wound up dropping their second straight game.
Pat McInerney gave the Timber Rattlers (31-34) the lead with an opposite-field home run in the first inning. The right-handed slugger lined a 1-2 pitch from Mitchell Traver over the wall in right with two outs and none on base for his ninth homer of the season and a 1-0 lead.
Dylan File was activated off the Wisconsin disabled list before the game and the All-Star pitcher made his first start since May 22 and pitched 3-1/3 scoreless innings. File allowed one hit, walked none, struck out three, and left the game after retiring the Bees lead-off batter in the fourth.
Burlington (29-36) rallied against reliever Carlos Herrera right away. Kevin Williams Jr. greeted Herrera with a single and stole second. Franklin Torres blooped a single into left-center to score Williams with the tying run. Later in the inning, Julio Garcia doubled with two outs and Torres scored to put the Bees up 2-1.
A two-out error in the bottom of the sixth inning allowed Torres to score from third for a 3-1 lead.
Wisconsin got close in the top of the seventh inning. Gilbert Lara singled and Tristen Lutz walked to start the frame against reliever Jorge Tavarez. Zach Clark doubled to center with one out to score Lara and send Lutz to third. Devin Hairston drew a walk to load the bases and chase Tavarez from the game. Eduardo Del Rosario entered the game and protected the 3-2 Burlington advantage by striking out the next two batters.
In the eighth, the Rattlers had Demi Orimoloye at second with one out, but he strayed too far from second on a grounder to short off the bat of Lara and was caught trying to get back to second for the second out. Lutz would follow with a single and a wild pitch by Del Rosario put the tying run on third and the lead run on second with two outs. But, Del Rosario ended the threat with another strikeout.
Del Rosario closed out the game with no drama as he tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save.
Tuesday's game was the 23rd time the Rattlers have been involved in a game decided by one run. They are 11-12 in one-run games. The Bees are now 9-15 in one-run games this season.
Game two of the series is Wednesday night. Christian Taugner (2-4, 3.74) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Burlington has named Jose Soriano (0-1, 9.00) as their starter. Game time at Community Field is 6:30pm. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Pregame Show at 6:10pm. The broadcast is also available on the Tune In and IHeart Radio apps.
