Wisconsin Outlasts Snappers 9-7 in Ten Innings

BELOIT, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers started out hot, cooled off, and got going late to defeat the Beloit Snappers 9-7 at Pohlman Field on Saturday night. Yeison Coca homered and drove in three runs while Connor McVey homered, scored three runs, and drove in two runs for the Rattlers. Both were involved in the decisive rally in the tenth.

McVey put the Timber Rattlers (38-40 overall, 7-2 second half) in front with a one-out, solo home run in the top of the first inning.

Wisconsin poured on the offense in the top of the third as they sent ten men to the plate and knocked Beloit's starting pitcher Aiden McIntyre out of the game. Korry Howell started the onslaught with a walk. He stole second and went to third on a throwing error. Brice Turang drove in Howell with an infield single. Then, Turang stole second and went to third as the ball went to the backstop. McVey drove in Turang with a sacrifice fly.

Later in the inning, Coca hit a long, two-run home run to right-center and the Rattlers padded their lead to 5-0. Coca's home run, his fifth of the season, was his first home run since May 13.

McIntyre walked the final two batters he faced and turned the game over to reliever Charlie Cerny. Je'Von Ward welcomed Cerny to the game with a double to left the scored the final run of the inning for the 6-0 lead.

Beloit (28-48, 1-7) stormed back with four unearned runs after there were two outs in the bottom of the third inning. Devin Foyle reached on an error with one out, but he was still at first base with two outs. Cobie Vance lined a 3-2 pitch to the gap in right-center and Ward could not hold on for the final out. The play was ruled a double and Foyle scored.

Adam Hill, Wisconsin's starter got to two strikes on the next three batters he faced, but he could not find the final out. First, Logan Farrar drew a walk. Then, Anthony Churlin singled in a run. Nick Ward followed with a double to right-center on a 3-2 pitch to score Farrar and Churlin and that was all for Hill.

Wilfred Salaman took over for Hill and got the final out of the third with the Rattlers still up 6-4.

Wisconsin added a run in the top of the fourth inning. McVey was on third and David Fry was at first. Fry took off for second and was out on a caught stealing, but McVey raced home without a play for the 7-4 lead.

The Snappers rallied in the fifth to tie the game. Salaman hit Farrar and walked Churlin before giving up a double to Ward. That ended Salaman's day. Robbie Hitt took over for Salaman and gave up a two-run double to Lester Madden that scored both runners and the score was tied 7-7.

The bullpens settled the game down at that point. Three Beloit pitchers combined to retire sixteen Timber Rattlers in a row from the final out of the fourth inning through the end of the ninth. Wisconsin's relievers set fifteen of sixteen Snappers hitters back to the bench after the double by Madden to the last out of regulation.

Wisconsin scored twice in the top of the tenth without a hit. Turang started the frame at second. McVey dropped a sacrifice bunt to third and the throw to first was wild. That allowed Turang to score and McVey to take second base. Fry moved McVey to third with a deep flyout to right. Coca got the insurance run home with a sacrifice fly and the Rattlers were up 9-7.

Victor Castaneda entered the game in the bottom of the tenth inning and retired the side in order while leaving Churlin, who started the inning on second, on base. Castaneda picked up his first professional save by closing out Wisconsin's fourth straight win.

Chad Whitmer was the winning pitcher for the Rattlers. He pitched three perfect innings and struck out four in the game.

The loss was the sixth in a row for the Snappers.

Wisconsin's four-game winning streak matches their longest of the season. They also won four in a row from May 10 to May 14.

Game two of the series is Sunday afternoon at Pohlman Field. Logan Gillaspie (1-4, 3.90) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Beloit has named Richard Guasch (0-2, 6.75) as their starter. First pitch is set for 2:00pm. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM and the TuneIn Radio app starting with the Papa John's Pizza Pregame Show at 1:40pm.