Rattlers Drop Series Finale to Dragons

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Dayton Dragons scored seven runs in the sixth inning to pull away from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium on Friday night. The Dragons banged out 18 hits on their way to a 12-5 win over the Rattlers.
Dayton (44-52 overall, 13-15 second half) took the lead in the first inning when Jose Garcia scored from third on a two-out wild pitch by Wisconsin starting pitcher Nelson Hernández. 

The Dragons added to their lead in the second on RBI singles by Garcia and Andy Sugilio for a 3-0 lead.

Wisconsin 43-53, 12-15) rallied to within a run with a tally in the third and another - after an 80-minute rain delay - in the fourth. Rob Henry tripled in a run before the rain delay. An error let in the run after the rain delay.

Wisconsin loaded the bases with one out in the fourth inning, but stranded all three runners and trailed 3-2 heading to the fifth.

Leandro Santana cracked a two-run homer in the top of the fifth to give the Dragons breathing room.

Dayton put the game away in the sixth inning with seven runs. The first run of the inning scored on a bases-loaded walk to Hendrik Clementina. Mark Kolozsvary followed with a two-run single for an 8-2 lead. A single by Santana chased reliever Matt Hardy from the game.

Alejo Lopez greeted Gabe Friese with an RBI single. A wild pitch added another run in the frame. Lopez blooped a single to center - his fifth hit of the game - to knock in the final two runs of the seven-run frame and the Dragons were up 12-2.

The Rattlers scored the final three runs of the game. Trever Morrison extended his current hitting streak to seven games with an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth. Gabriel García had an RBI single in the seventh. Nic Pierre added an RBI single in the ninth.

Wisconsin had a lot of opportunities to match the offensive outburst by the Dragons. Wisconsin had twelve hits and drew six walks, but they stranded 14 runners and were just 4-for-20 with runners in scoring position.

Kenny Corey led the Timber Rattlers hitters with four hits - two singles and two doubles - and two runs scored in the game.

The loss denied the Rattlers a three-game sweep of the Dragons, but Wisconsin has won two of three games in their last two series against Eastern Division teams. Wisconsin is 14-7 against the East in 2018.
The Timber Rattlers continue their homestand on Saturday night with the first game of a three-game series against the Bowling Green Hot Rods, their final opponent from the Eastern Division they will face this season. Bowden Francis (4-7, 5.10) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Bowling Green has named Tobias Myers (9-4, 4.42) as their starter. Game time is 6:35pm.

Saturday night is the second night of Superhero Weekend at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The first 500 children (ages 12 & under) to attend this game will receive Frisbees with a Captain America logo on it from North Shore Bank. Plus, Cap and The Incredible Hulk are stopping by the game to meet you.   

Oshkosh Corporation will have vehicles on display in the parking lot before the game and kids can enjoy them with a hands-on approach with Touch-A-Truck. Oshkosh Corporation will also present the postgame fireworks. After the fireworks, children 14 and under may run the bases courtesy of Meijer. This is all part of a North Shore Bank Family Night with WIXX.

If you can't make it out to the ballpark, there are many ways to catch the action. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Pregame Show at 6:15pm. The broadcast is also available on the Tune In and IHeart Radio apps. The game will be televised on CW-14 in Northeastern Wisconsin and on My24 in Southeastern Wisconsin starting at 6:30pm. Subscribers to MiLB.tv can watch the game over the internet.