Rattlers Fall to LumberKings

CLINTON, IA - The Clinton LumberKings defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 4-2 on Wednesday afternoon at Ashford University Field. Joseph Rosa led the way with two hits, two RBI, and a run scored for the LumberKings. Wisconsin had a tough day at the plate as they struck out twelve times and on the bases to drop their second straight game on the road trip.
 
Clinton (4-2) took the lead in the first inning with a non-traditional rally. Rosa, the leadoff batter, drew a four-pitch walk from Wisconsin starting pitcher Carlos Herrera. Herrera appeared to retire Eugene Helder a few pitches later, but the Rattlers hurler was called for a balk allowing Rosa to take second base. Helder would ground out to move Rosa to third. Then, Herrera was called for another balk and Rosa scored the first run of the game.

KJ Harrison started the Wisconsin second inning with a double, his first hit of the season. However, Harrison was still at second base with two outs. Then, Gilbert Lara roped a double to the corner in left and Harrison scored to tie the game. Jay Feliciano was next and he singled to knock in Lara for a 2-1 lead.

The LumberKings went back to the lead in the bottom of the third inning when they scored two runs on just one hit. Herrera walked the first two batters - Nick Thurman and Billy Cooke - he faced in the inning. Rosa followed with a single to drive in Thurman with the tying run and send Cooke to third base.

Then, Rosa took a huge lead at first base and drew a throw from Herrera. Rosa stayed in a rundown long enough for Cooke to make a break for the plate. The throw home was late and Cooke scored the go-ahead run.

The Timber Rattlers (2-4) had several chances to tie the game, but were foiled when they ran into outs on the bases. 

In the fourth inning with runners at the corners and two outs, Lara took off for second on a pitch to the plate. Batter Jay Feliciano took the pitch and Clinton catcher Nick Thurman bluffed a throw to second. Clark bit on the bluff and got caught in a rundown between third and home for the final out.

In the fifth inning, Feliciano was at second with one out and got caught straying too far from second on a grounder to short. He was thrown out trying to get back to second.

In the sixth inning, Harrison was at second and Lara was at first with two outs and Feliciano at the plate. Feliciano took a pitch for strike two before Thurman fired to second to pickoff Harrison to end the inning.

The Timber Rattlers did not threaten to score again in the game.

Rosa added an insurance run with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to account for the final score.
The final game of the series is scheduled for Thursday evening at Ashford University Field. Alec Bettinger (0-1, 13.50) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Clinton will counter with Nick Wells (1-0, 3.60). Game time is 6:30pm. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Pregame Show at 6:10pm. The broadcast is also available on the TuneIn Radio and IHeartRadio apps.