Lara Delivers Walkoff Single for Wisconsin Win

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers defeated the Quad Cities River Bandits 3-2 in thirteen innings on Wednesday night. Gilbert Lara knocked in the winning run with a bases loaded single to close out the River Bandits at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

The starting pitchers were outstanding. Wisconsin starter Zack Brown allowed three hits and worked around four walks with three strikeouts over six inning. Forrest Whitley allowed one unearned run on four hits with four walks and six strikeouts.

The River Bandits (41-34 overall, 4-3 second half) nearly broke through in the top of the sixth inning. Daz Cameron doubled to start the inning. He attempted to steal third with one out, but Nathan Rodriguez threw Cameron out. Brown would walk the next two batters before getting the final out later to keep the game scoreless.

The Timber Rattlers (29-46, 3-4) did break through in the bottom of the sixth. Demi Orimoloye walked to start the frame and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tucker Neuhaus. Then, with Weston Wilson at the plate, Orimoloye stole third and scored on an errant throw to give the Rattlers a 1-0 lead.

Quad Cities would tie the game in the top of the eighth inning. Wander Franco singled to right against reliever Parker Berberet with two outs and Troy Sieber at second. Sieber scored easily to even the score.
The game remained tied until the top of the eleventh. Reliever Daniel Brown hit leadoff batter Ronnie Dawson on a 1-2 pitch. Brown would walk a batter with one out. Dawson would successfully steal third base with two outs and Tyler Wolfe at the plate. The next pitch was wild and Dawson scored to put the River Bandits up 2-1.

Wisconsin rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the eleventh against Dustin Hunt. Tucker Neuhaus reached on an error with one out. Trever Morrison took over as a pinch-runner and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Morrison was still at second with two outs. That was when Mario Feliciano delivered a single up the middle of the diamond and Morrison raced home with the tying run.

Brown pitched a 1-2-3 twelfth and saw the Rattlers load the bases with one out in their half of the twelfth. However, Hunt escaped the inning with a strikeout and a flyout.

Hunt was not as fourtunate in the bottom of the thirteenth. Wilson singled to start the inning and he was sacrificed to second by Feliciano. Ryan Aguilar and Rodriguez each drew walks to load the bases and bring Lara to the plate. Lara lined an 0-1 pitch down the line in left to drive in Wilson with the winning run.
The final game of the series - and of Wisconsin's homestand - is Thursday night. Thomas Jankins (3-5, 4.87) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Quad Cities has Carlos Sanabria (2-2, 2.63) set to start for them. Game time is 7:05pm.
Milk Source and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are holding their annual Salute to Cows promotion on Thursday and the first 1,000 fans to attend this game will receive a cow-patterned, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers batting helmet. 

The team will get into the act by wearing special cow-patterned jerseys during the game. These jerseys are being auctioned online with the proceeds going to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Charity Foundation to benefit the Freedom Food Pantry. Bid here before 9:00pm on Thursday night.

Plus, there will be a lot of other bovine games and fun for our annual Salute to Cows game!   Fans of legal drinking age may enjoy 12-ounce craft beers for $2. Cher-Make brats are also just $2 and they are available for everyone. Beers from Fox River Brewing Company, Badger Club Amber, and many, many more will be available. Present the ticket to this game at World of Beer after the game and receive a free beer there.
If you can't make it to the ballpark, there are several ways to catch the action. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Pregame Show at 6:45pm. The broadcast is also available on TuneIn Radio, IHeartRadio, and MiLB.tv.