DAYTON, OH - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers road trip to the Eastern Division started with a 6-2 loss to the Dayton Dragons at Fifth Third Field on Wednesday night. Dayton used a pair of homers and held Wisconsin to two runs for the victory.
DAYTON, OH - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers road trip to the Eastern Division started with a 6-2 loss to the Dayton Dragons at Fifth Third Field on Wednesday night. Dayton used a pair of homers and held Wisconsin to two runs for the victory.
Thomas Dillard, the 5th round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2019 draft, gave Wisconsin (42-46 overall, 11-8 second half) a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Dillard singled to right with two outs to score Yeison Coca from second for the first run of the game.
Wisconsin could not add to the lead in the inning. Jesús Lujano singled to left with two outs and Dillard at second base. Dillard was sent home, but a strong throw from Peterson Plaz got Dillard for the final out of the first.
The Dragons (36-53, 8-11) tied the game with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Morgan Lofstrom doubled to start the frame and moved to third on a grounder. Plaz was next and the Rattlers brought the infield in to try to cut down the run. Plaz sent a high chopper to Coca at short. Coca fired home, but Lofstrom was able to beat the throw and score the tying run.
Mariel Bautista put Dayton in front with a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Bautista hit a hooking line drive down the line in left and the ball hit the middle of the pole for his sixth home run of the season.
Bren Spillane added to the Dayton lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Wisconsin's offense went silent after the first inning until Brent Díaz launched a lead-off home run in the top of the seventh. His second homer of the season pulled Wisconsin to within 4-2.
But, the Dragons padded their lead in the bottom of the eighth inning on a two-run double by Pabel Manzanero with two outs and the Rattlers found themselves trailing 6-2 heading to the ninth.
Gabriel García started the ninth inning with a single and Korry Howell singled with two outs, but the Rattlers were unable to string anymore hits together to mount a comeback.
Game two of the series is Thursday night at Fifth Third Field. Max Lazar (2-1, 2.14) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Dayton has named Jhon De Jesus (2-7, 4.91) as their starter. Game time is 6:00pm CDT. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM and the TuneIn Radio app starting with the Papa John's Pizza Pregame Show at 5:40pm. MiLB.tv subscribers can watch the game over the internet.
