Rattlers Held to One Hit in 4-1 Loss to West Michigan

GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers took the early lead over the West Michigan Whitecaps with a run in the first inning on Thursday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The Whitecaps took the lead in the top of the second on consecutive homers and never gave it back on their way to a 4-1 victory.

Thomas Dillard gave Wisconsin (6-9) its first lead of the series with a two-out, RBI triple in the bottom of the first inning. The triple was the first of Dillard’s professional career. It was also the only hit of the game for the Rattlers.

The Whitecaps (7-7) took the lead back in the top of the second inning, but it could have been much, much worse. Daniel Cabrera and Bryant Packard hit back-too-back home runs to start the inning and West Michigan was up 2-1. Wisconsin starting pitcher Zach Mort got the first out of the inning but walked the next three batters to load the bases. Mort escaped without further damage when he got Spencer Torkelson to ground into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

West Michigan added an unearned run in the top of the third inning on an RBI fielder’s choice by Packard. Wisconsin reliever Arman Sabouri took over for Mort after that play and kept the score at 3-1 with 3-1/3 scoreless innings and five strikeouts.

Beau Brieske kept the Rattlers in check through six innings. He didn’t allow a hit after the triple by Dillard, retired the final fourteen batters he faced in the game, and struck out nine. Brieske also retired the final fourteen batters that he faced.

The Rattlers didn’t have a hit in the seventh against reliever Cam Kessler, but still put together a threat. Kessler walked Carlos Rodríguez to start the inning. Rodríguez stole second with Dillard at the plate but was ruled out when he overslid second for the first out. Kessler walked Dillard and hit Gabriel García to put the tying runs on base to end his night.

Yaya Chentouf relieved Kessler and got Jesús Lujano to swing at the first pitch he threw and the result was an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.

West Michigan added an insurance in the ninth without the benefit of a hit. Two walks and a hit batsman loaded the bases with one out and Cabrera walked to force in the fourth run of the game.

Wisconsin pitchers walked eleven in the game. In the first three games of the series, Wisconsin pitchers have pitched a total of 9-2/3 out of the 27 innings.

Game four of the series is Friday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Victor Castañeda 91-1, 5.40) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. West Michigan will send Jesús Rodríguez (0-0, 3.24) to the mound. Game time is 6:35pm.

Friday night is a Supper Club Friday presented by Arty’s Supper Club Cocktails with 101.1 WIXX. Fans of legal drinking age may purchase Arty’s Supper Club Cocktails for half-price. After the game, children twelve and under may run the bases courtesy of Menasha Corporation.

If you can’t make it out to the ballpark, catch the action on AM 1280 WNAM starting with the pregame show at 6:15pm. The game is also available on internet audio and through MiLB.tv.