Heartbreak in Peoria Again

PEORIA, IL – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers clawed their way back from a 5-0 deficit against the Peoria Chiefs to tie Saturday’s game at Dozer Park 5-5. Then, Peoria scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to hand the Rattlers an 8-5 loss. This game was Peoria's fourth straight last at bat victory over the Rattlers in this series.

The Chiefs (5-6) took the lead in the bottom of the first. Malcom Nunez hit a two-run homer after Alec Burleson drew a walk to start the frame.

Peoria added to their lead with three more hits, all for extra bases, in the bottom of the second. Leandro Cedeno doubled with one out. Moises Castillo followed with an RBI double. Timber Rattlers starting pitcher Victor Castañeda issued a walk to the next batter. Castillo was out trying to steal third and it looked like Castañeda might be able to get out of the inning. However, Alec Burleson hit a long home run to right and the Chiefs were up 5-0.

Wisconsin (5-6) had a chance at a big inning in the top of the third against Peoria starter Nathanael Heredia. Korry Howell walked and David Hamilton singled to put runners on the corners. Hamilton was caught stealing for the first out. Then, Gabriel García singled to center to drive in Howell. Heredia walked the next two batters to load the bases and was replaced by reliever John Gragg, who got a strikeout and a flyout to end the inning.

The Rattlers loaded the bases against Gragg in the top of the fourth, but he stranded all three runners again.

Cristían Sierra took over for Castañeda in the bottom of the fifth inning and worked three perfect innings out of the bullpen to hold the Chiefs were they were at.

Hamilton started the comeback for the Rattlers with a lead-off double in the seventh inning. He stole third with one out, but was still there with two outs. Carlos Rodríguez stepped to the plate and sent a foul pop to third that was dropped for an error. He made the most of his second chance with an infield single to drive in Hamilton.

Wisconsin tied the game with three runs – and a little help from the Chiefs defense – in the top of the eighth against reliever Leonardo Taveras. The inning started with a walk to Hayden Cantrelle and a double by Jesús Lujano. Yeison Coca’s infield single to the left side scored Cantrelle, but Lujano had to hold at second base. Taveras retired the next two batters and the runners were still on first and second with García coming to the plate. Before Taveras could throw his second pitch to García, both runners took off. Taveras stepped off to throw to third to get Lujano, but threw wildly and Lujano scored to make the score 5-4.

García tied the game moments later with a blooper into right to score Coca.

In the bottom of the eighth, Pedro Pages started the inning with a hit down the line in right against reliever Nathan Patterson. Pages tried to stretch the hit into a double and was thrown out on a strong throw from Rodríguez. However, the next two batters reached on two singles. That brought Chandler Redmond to the plate.

Patterson got Redmond to chase a low pitch the he tipped and catcher Nick Kahle showed that he caught it for what should have been strike three for the second out of the inning. However, the plate umpire called it no catch and the at bat continued until Redmond walked on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. Patterson got Leandro Cedeno to ground to third and Wisconsin got the force at the plate for the second out.

That gave Castillo, who had the walkoff hit in the tenth inning on Wednesday night against Wisconsin, a chance and the Chiefs shortstop lined an 0-1 pitch to left-center to drive in all three runners and the Chiefs were up 8-5.

Wisconsin went down in order in the top of the ninth.

The final game of the series is Sunday afternoon at Dozer Park. Nick Bennett (1-0, 5.68) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Jack Ralston (0-1, 1.42) is set to start for the Chiefs. Game time is 1:35pm. Catch the action on AM 1280 WNAM starting with the pregame show at 1:15pm. The game is also available on internet audio and through MiLB.tv.