Late Peoria Rallies Beat Wisconsin
PEORIA, IL – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had another late lead against the Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Park on Thursday night. The Chiefs had another night where they rallied late to beat the Timber Rattlers, this time by a 3-2 score with the tying and winning runs scoring in very
PEORIA, IL – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had another late lead against the Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Park on Thursday night. The Chiefs had another night where they rallied late to beat the Timber Rattlers, this time by a 3-2 score with the tying and winning runs scoring in very different ways.
David Hamilton put the Timber Rattlers (5-4) up in the third inning with a two-out, RBI single to center to score Chad McClanahan from second base. The Rattlers were denied an opportunity to add on in the inning when right fielder Alec Burleson made a diving grab of Hayden Cantrelle’s sinking liner for the third out.
Peoria (3-6) answered in the bottom of the third inning. Jhon Torres singled and stole second to start the inning. Malcom Nunez followed with a double to left and Torres scored the tying run.
Wisconsin went back in front in the top of the fifth inning with a two-out rally. Nick Kahle singled to get the inning to Hamilton, who ripped a triple to center. Hamilton’s third hit of the game sent Kahle home with the run to make it 2-1 Rattlers.
Reese Olson, Wisconsin’s starting pitcher, pitched a scoreless bottom of the fifth to turn that 2-1 lead over to the bullpen. Olson allowed one run on four hits with seven strikeouts.
The Chiefs went down quietly in the sixth against reliever John LaRossa, but they rallied in the seventh. A lead-off walk, a wild pitch, and a single by Moises Castillo put runners on the corners with no outs. LaRossa struck out the next batter, but a stolen base by Castillo with Torres at the plate put the lead run in scoring position. LaRossa came back to strike out Torres for the second out and it looked like he might escape with the lead.
However, LaRossa was called with a balk on the first pitch to the next batter and the tying run scored to even the score 2-2.
In the bottom of the eighth, Nash Walters, Wisconsin’s third pitcher of the night, retired the first two batters he faced. Then, Brendan Donovan lined a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left for an opposite field homer and a 3-2 Peoria lead.
The Rattlers had a chance in the top of the ninth. Carlos Rodríguez drew a lead-off walk against Peoria’s Evan Sisk. Rodríguez stole second with no outs and Wisconsin had the tying run in scoring position. Sisk protected the lead and ended the game with two strikeouts and a grounder to third to give the Chiefs their second straight win over Wisconsin.
Game four of the series is set for Friday night at Dozer Park. Zach Mort (0-0, 1.80) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. The Chiefs have named Michael YaSenka (0-1, 10.80) as their starting pitcher. Game time is 6:35pm. Catch the action on AM 1280 WNAM starting with the pregame show at 6:15pm. The game is also available on internet audio and through MiLB.tv.