Clinton Goes Deep to Beat Rattlers 8-1

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Clinton LumberKings hit three homers and held the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to three hits on the way to an 8-1 win at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium on Saturday night. The win was the second straight for the LumberKings over the Rattlers.
Wisconsin (34-45 overall, 3-7 second half) had the best early opportunity to score. They loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first inning, but Clinton starting pitcher Oliver Jaskie got out of the inning without allowing a run by getting an inning-ending 1-4-3 double play.

The LumberKings (46-34, 7-3) scored twice in the top of second. Eugene Helder tripled to start the frame. Keegan McGovern was next and he lined a foul ball that hit Clinton manager Denny Hocking, who was coaching at third base, in the face. Hocking walked off the field under his own power, but did not return to the game.

McGovern singled later in his at bat to knock in Helder. Later in the inning, Clinton had runners at the corners with one out. Zach Scott sent a grounder back to the mound and pitcher Bowden Francis bobbled the ball for a moment. He was able to get the force at second, but Scott was able to beat the throw to first.

Zach Clark put the Timber Rattlers on the scoreboard with a long home run that cleared the wall beyond the LumberKings bullpen in left-center field to start the bottom of the third inning. Clark's homer was his fifth of the season and brought the Rattlers to within 2-1.

But, that was about it for Wisconsin's offense in the game.

Clinton was not done scoring in the game.

Johnny Adams hit a solo homer with one out in the fourth inning. Then, Zach Scott reached on a single with two outs. Juan Camacho drove in Scott with a double.

Onil Peña made it 6-1 with a two-run home run in the top of the sixth against reliever JR Hintzen.

Wisconsin put two runners on against Jaskie in the bottom of the sixth on a walk to Tyler Saladino and a single by Tristen Lutz to start the inning. But, Clinton reliever Adonis De La Cruz entered the game in relief of Jaskie and retired the next three batters of the sixth and tossed a 1-2-3 seventh.

Helder accounted for the final two runs of the game with a two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning. Clinton had three homers in Saturday's game. They have hit 14 home runs in eleven games against Wisconsin this season.
The Timber Rattlers and LumberKings conclude their four-game series on Sunday afternoon. Christian Taugner (3-6, 3.55) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Randy Bell (0-0, 2.25) is set to start for the LumberKings. Game time at Neuroscience Group Field is 1:05pm.
It's a Brewers Sunday with Rasmussen College and Star 98 for the first home Sunday of the second half. The first 500 fans to attend this game will receive a magnet of 2009 Rattler and current Brewer Lorenzo Cain from Lamers Bus Lines. This is magnet #2 in a series of four that are being given away this season. Timber Rattlers players and coaches will wear their Brewers-inspired jerseys for the game. Fans may play catch on-field courtesy of Rasmussen College starting at noon. Players will be available for a postgame autograph session sponsored by Tundraland.

If you can't make it out to the ballpark, the radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Pregame Show at 12:45pm. The broadcast is also available on the Tune In and IHeart Radio apps. Saturday's game will also be televised on CW-14 in Green Bay and My-24 in Milwaukee starting at 1:00pm. Subscribers to MiLB.tv can watch the game over the internet.