BELOIT, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers got their seven-game road trip off to a great start with a 7-4 win over the Beloit Snappers at Pohlman Field on Friday night. Tucker Neuhaus hit a pair of homers and drove in five runs to lead the way for Wisconsin.
BELOIT, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers got their seven-game road trip off to a great start with a 7-4 win over the Beloit Snappers at Pohlman Field on Friday night. Tucker Neuhaus hit a pair of homers and drove in five runs to lead the way for Wisconsin.
The Timber Rattlers (30-47 overall, 4-5 second half) loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first inning against Beloit starting pitcher Zack Erwin. Neuhaus drove in the first run with a ground out. Ronnie Gideon followed with a two-out, two-run single to center and the Rattlers were up 3-0.
Wisconsin starting pitcher Nattino Diplan cruised through the first four innings. He allowed two infield singles and struck out six in the first four innings. But, the Snappers solved him in the fifth. Collin Theroux doubled to start the inning and Javon Shelby followed with a double to drive in Theroux. Mike Martin was next and he singled to left to knock in Shelby. Diplan got the first out, but walked Luke Persico to put the go-ahead run on base. That would be all for Diplan and Miguel Sanchez was called out of the bullpen.
Sanchez did the job as he got the next batter to ground into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.
Neuhaus gave Wisconsin a little breathing room when he started the top of the sixth inning with his tenth homer of the season. The blast put the Rattlers up 4-2.
But, Beloit (38-40, 6-3) came back with a run in the bottom of the sixth and threatened to take the lead against Sanchez. Luis Barrera started the inning with a double and went to third on a single by Miguel Mercedes. Trace Loehr's sacrifice fly to left scored Barrera to cut Wisconsin's lead to one run. Sanchez got the second out, but gave up a single and a walk to load the bases. He would get out of the inning with a force play at third base.
Beloit reliever Yordys Alejo retired the first two batters he faced in the seventh inning, but gave up a single to Mario Feliciano and hit Weston Wilson to bring Neuhaus back to the plate. Neuhaus launched an 0-1 pitch over the wall in center for a three-run homer and the Rattlers were up 7-3.
Braden Webb took over for Sanchez on the mound when the Timber Rattlers took the field after the stretch and things got interesting in a hurry as he walked the first two batters. Webb would strikeout the next batter, but a third walk in the inning loaded the bases. Loehr hit a hard line drive to left that scored a run to make the score 7-4. Webb rebounded to strike out the next two batters and end the inning.
Friday was the third multi-homer game of the season for Neuhaus. He has eleven home runs this season.
The victory was the first in a road game by the Timber Rattlers since May 27. They had lost thirteen straight games away from home until this win on Friday night.
Game two of the series is Saturday night. Jordan Desguin (4-4, 6.00) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Beloit has named Brandon Bailey (1-1, 2.68) as their starter. Game time is 7:00pm. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Pregame Show at 6:40pm. The broadcast is also available on TuneIn Radio and IHeartRadio.
