MIDLAND, MI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had a 1-0 lead over the Great Lakes Loons late in Saturday's game at Dow Diamond. But, the Loons rallied for five runs after the seventh inning stretch to pick up their eighth straight win in the 5-1 comeback victory. The rally spoiled
MIDLAND, MI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had a 1-0 lead over the Great Lakes Loons late in Saturday's game at Dow Diamond. But, the Loons rallied for five runs after the seventh inning stretch to pick up their eighth straight win in the 5-1 comeback victory. The rally spoiled a terrific performance by Rattlers starting pitcher Aaron Ashby.
Wisconsin (12-15) took the lead in the top of the fourth inning. David Fry scored from third on a wild pitch by Loons starting pitcher Andre Jackson with two outs for a 1-0 advantage.
Ashby was cruising through the game after issuing a one-out walk to James Outman in the second inning. The left-hander retired 14 in a row through the bottom of the sixth. However, he needed a sparkling defensive play to escape the sixth with the lead.
Miguel Vargas walked with two outs to give the Loons their first base runner since the second inning. He would steal second to get into scoring position. Then, Chris Roller, who had three RBI on Friday night, smacked a sinking line drive to center. Jesús Lujano made a diving catch for the final out to preserve the lead.
Ashby did not make another pitch in the game. He worked six innings, allowed one hit, walked two, and struck out seven before turning the game over to the bullpen.
Great Lakes (16-12) loaded the bases on three straight singles against reliever Chad Whitmer in the bottom of the seventh. The third hit of the sequence was a fly ball to left that was lost in the sun.
Whitmer got ahead of Romer Cuadrado 1-2, but would lose him on a close 3-2 pitch to walk in the tying run. The next batter was Luke Heyer and Whitmer got ahead with two quick strikes. But, Whitmer hit Heyer on a 1-2 pitch to force in the go-ahead run.
Michael Mediavilla took over for Whitmer. He got two outs on a strikeout and a force at the plate and it appeared he would limit the damage. However, a four-pitch walk to Vargas forced in another run for the Loons.
That brought Roller back to the plate and he didn't miss on this two-out RBI situation. Roller lined a single to left-center to score two runs and the Loons had a 5-1 lead.
All five runs were charged to Whitmer, who had not allowed any runs in his first thirteen innings pitched over his first eight appearances for the Rattlers this season.
Wisconsin did not threaten to rally in the eighth or ninth innings and succumbed for their third straight loss.
Jose Martinez was the winning pitcher for the Loons. He pitched four scoreless innings out of the Great Lakes bullpen, allowed one hit, walked one, and struck out three.
The final game of the series - and of the Rattlers road trip - is set for Sunday afternoon. Max Lazar (1-0, 1.40) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Great Lakes has named Zach Willeman (2-0, 2.16) as their starter. Game time is 1:05pm CDT. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM and the TuneIn Radio app starting with the Papa John's Pizza Pregame Show at 12:45pm. MiLB.tv subscribers can watch the game over the internet.
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