Snappers Bite Rattlers

BELOIT, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers were charged with five errors leading to four unearned runs scoring for the Beloit Snappers on Thursday night at ABC Supply Stadium. Four was the margin of victory as the Beloit beat the Rattlers 8-4.

Click here for the boxscore of this game

Thomas Dillard, who was 3-for-3 on the night, gave Wisconsin (38-42) a 1-0 lead with a long, solo home run to center in the top of the first inning. The homer was Dillard’s 16th of the season.

The Snappers (35-45) staged a two-out rally to take the lead in the bottom of the third. Victor Victor Mesa singled with two outs and Nic Ready at first base. Ready ran for third on the hit and the throw there was late. Mesa would take second on the throw to third and Kameron Misner followed with a single to right to score both runners and Beloit was up 2-1.

Troy Johnston, who homered twice on Wednesday night, hit a lead-off home run in the bottom of the third inning and the Snappers had a 3-1 lead.

Wisconsin threatened in the top of the sixth inning. Hayden Cantrelle walked to start the inning, Dillard singled with one out, and Je’Von Ward walked with two outs to load the bases. Snappers’ starter Bryan Hoeing ended the inning with a strikeout.

Beloit batters went back to work in the bottom of the sixth and tacked on four runs. Thomas Jones singled and Kole Enright walked to start the inning. Nic Ready singled to left and scored Jones. A ground out moved both runners into scoring position. Connor Scott was next, and he sent a grounder to Dillard, who was playing in at first base. Dillard charged the ball and threw to the plate but threw wildly to allow Enright to score, Ready to take second, and Scott to move to second. Misner delivered a two-run single and the Snappers had a 7-1 lead.

Wisconsin chipped away with single runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Cantrelle grounded into a force play at second with runners at the corners in the seventh inning to drive in Chad McClanahan. Carlos Rodríguez doubled to center in the eighth to score Dillard all the way from first base.

The Snappers added to their lead in the eighth inning with another unearned run. Two errors on one play allowed Ynmanol Marinez to take third base to start the frame. Mesa’s deep fly to center scored Marinez and the Snappers had an 8-3 lead.

The Rattlers battled in the ninth and managed to get the tying run to the plate against reliever Brady Puckett. Antonio Piñero singled and went to second on an error and Cantrelle walked with one out. Dillard was hit by a 1-2 pitch to reach base for the fifth time on the evening and load the bases. Then, Puckett hit Joe Gray Jr. with a 1-2 pitch to force in a run to make the score 8-4.

Tyler Mitzel was summoned from the Beloit bullpen and retired Ward on a deep flyout to left field for the save.

Game four of the series at ABC Supply Stadium is Friday night. Victor Castañeda (3-4, 3.66) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. The Snappers have named George Soriano (1-1, 3.18) as their starting pitcher. Game time is 6:35pm. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM and internet audio starting with the pregame show at 6:15pm.