EASTLAKE, OH - The Lake County Captains scored all five of their runs after there were two outs and defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 5-2 on Wednesday afternoon at Classic Park.Devin Hairston put the Rattlers (8-17) up with a two-out RBI single in the top of the fourth. Demi Orimoloye
EASTLAKE, OH - The Lake County Captains scored all five of their runs after there were two outs and defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 5-2 on Wednesday afternoon at Classic Park.
Devin Hairston put the Rattlers (8-17) up with a two-out RBI single in the top of the fourth. Demi Orimoloye doubled to start the inning, but he was still at second base with two outs. Hairston didn't leave him stranded as he singled up the middle to send Orimoloye home and extend his own hitting streak to five games.
Wisconsin loaded the bases in the fourth when Lake County starting pitcher Kirk McCarty walked the next two batters. However, the Rattlers left the bases loaded in the frame.
The Captains (12-12) came through with three two-out runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead and there was an odd play in the inning that helped the Captains.
They had a runner at second with one out and Todd Isaacs hit a line drive towards short, but the ball hit base umpire Dane Poncsak instead of getting through to Rattlers shortstop Gilbert Lara. The play was ruled a base hit and Lake County had runners at first and second.
Rattlers starting pitcher Christian Taugner got the second out of the inning with a strikeout, but gave up an RBI single to Jorma Rodriguez to let the Captains tie the game. Austen Wade was next and he cracked a double to left-center to score two more runs to put Lake County up 3-1.
Brent Diaz hit a lead-off home run in the top of the seventh off Captains reliever Felix Tati and the Rattlers were within a run. The homer was the second of the season for Diaz.
However, the Captains picked up two more two-out runs in the bottom of the seventh inning against reliever Robbie Hitt. The first two Lake County batters of the inning walked against Hitt, but they were still only at second and third with two outs.
Jose Vincente cashed in the opportunity with an infield single for his third hit of the game to drive in the runner from third. Hitt did get a grounder to first off the bat of Tyler Friis for what looked to be the final out of the inning, but the ball was misplayed by Pat McInerney for an error and the final run of the inning scored.
Orimoloye and Lara started the top if the eighth inning by reaching on a walk and a single to bring the tying run to the plate, but Tati stopped the rally in its tracks by getting KJ Harrison to ground into a 6-4-3 double play and striking out Hairston.
Tati retired the Rattlers in order in the ninth to close out a four-inning save and deny Wisconsin a third consecutive win.
The Timber Rattlers drew six walks, but also struck out thirteen times in Wednesday's game.
The loss dropped Wisconsin to 2-10 in day games this season.
The final game of the series is Thursday night at Classic Park. Carlos Herrera (0-2, 3.14) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. The Captains will counter with Eli Morgan (1-0, 1.37). Game time is 5:30pm CDT. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Pregame Show at 5:10pm. The broadcast is also available on the Tune In and IHeart Radio apps.
