Rattlers Deep Six Peoria with 9-4 Win

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers have scored a lot of runs in the sixth inning this season. Things were no different on Sunday afternoon against the Peoria Chiefs at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The Rattlers scored five times in the sixth inning to rally from a 2-1 deficit on their way to a 9-4 victory.

Wisconsin (53-58 overall, 22-20 second half) took the lead in the bottom of the second inning. Je'Von Ward tripled to start the inning. Chad McClanahan drove in Ward with a single to left-center for the 1-0 advantage.

Rattlers starting pitcher Reese Olson allowed four hits, including three doubles in the first four innings, but did not allow a run through the first four innings. That changed in the fifth inning.

Peoria (43-68, 13-29) started the fifth inning with a double by Edwin Figuera, but he was only at third base with two outs. Olson got ahead of Delvin Perez with two quick strikes, but left the next pitch up and Perez cracked a two-run homer to give the Chiefs a 2-1 lead.

Olson would work a scoreless top of the sixth inning for his longest outing as a professional. He allowed two runs on six hits and struck out five, but was on the hook for the loss until the Rattlers offense came alive in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Mike Brettell retired the first Wisconsin hitter he faced in the decisive inning, but he would not get another out in the frame. Thomas Dillard and Kekai Rios both drew walks to set the table. Ward cleared the bases with his second triple of the game and the Rattlers were up 3-2. They were just getting started.

Korry Howell walked and that was the end of the day for Brettell.

McClanahan greeted reliever Franyel Casadilla with a single to knock in Ward. Antonio Piñero was next and he doubled to left to knock in both Howell and McClanahan for a 6-2 lead.

Including the five runs scored on Sunday afternoon, Wisconsin has now scored 91 runs in the sixth inning this season.

In the seventh inning, Wisconsin designated hitter Kekai Rios hit his first professional home run to add to the lead.

Freisis Adames had relieved Olson to start the seventh inning. He gave up a run in the eighth on two-out, RBI single by Imeldo Diaz, but the Rattlers responded in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run triple by Jesús Lujano.

Leandro Cedeno closed out the scoring in the game when he hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth for the Chiefs. Adames got the final three outs without allowing another run and he closed out the game for his first save of the season.

Ward and McClanahan each had three hits to lead Wisconsin's thirteen-hit attack. This was the first game the Rattlers reached double digits for hits in a game since July 26 when they had twelve hits in a win at Cedar Rapids.
Game three of the series is Monday night at Neuroscience Group Field. Scotty Sunitsch (8-11, 4.85) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Peoria has tentatively set Logan Gragg (0-0, 3.38) as their starter. Game time is 6:35pm.
The Timber Rattlers and Cher-Make are presenting their second Dime Dog Night of the season on Monday night. Hot dogs are available for ten cents at the concession stands. Gates to the stadium open at 5:00pm. 

Monday is also the final Bark in the Park game of the season and it is presented by Fox Valley Animal Referral Center. Please see the release at this link for details on the event and the guidelines to allow your dog to attend the game. Admission for the dogs is free.

Humans may also get a free admission to this game if they stop at a Qdoba location in Appleton, Neenah, or Oshkosh for lunch. Purchase an entrée and you will receive a free ticket for the game as part of Qdoba Q*Monday with NASH-FM.
If you can't make it out to the game, the radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM and the TuneIn Radio app starting with the Papa John's Pizza Pregame Show at 6:15pm. MiLB.tv subscribers can watch the game over the internet.