Rattlers Tame Dragons 6-4

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers struck early and often to build a lead on their way to a 6-4 win over the Dayton Dragons at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium on Wednesday night. The win over their Eastern Division opponents kicked off a six-game homestand for the Rattlers on the right foot.
Tristen Lutz cracked a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to give the Rattlers (42-52 overall, 11-14 second half) an early 2-0 lead. The home run was the tenth of the season for Lutz.

Freddy Peralta made the start for the Rattlers. The Milwaukee Brewers rookie struck out the side in order in the top of the first inning. In the second, Jeter Downs doubled, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI grounder by Malik Collymore. Peralta, who was a Midwest League All-Star with the Timber Rattlers in 2016, worked two innings, allowed one run on one hit, walked none, and struck out five.

Wisconsin tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the second inning. A balk with runners on the corners allowed the first run to score. Darren Seferina singled to drive in the second run for a 4-1 lead.

Milwaukee Brewers reliever Matt Albers made the first appearance of his rehabilitation assignment when he came on to pitch the top of the third. Albers pitched a 1-2-3 frame with a strikeout. He is scheduled to return to the Rattlers and make a second relief appearance on Saturday night.

In the top of the third inning, KJ Harrison lined a solo homer - his ninth home run of the season for the Rattlers - and the Rattlers had a 5-1 lead.

JT Hintzen kept the Dragons in check with three scoreless innings out of the bullpen. The Brewers' tenth round pick out of Florida Southern allowed three hits, hit a batter, and struck out one.

Trever Morrison gave the Rattlers a little insurance with an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Dayton (43-51, 12-14) rallied against Carlos Herrera in the top of the eighth. Hendrik Clementina started the inning with a home run. Mitch Piatnik, Alejo Lopez, and Jose Garcia followed with consecutive singles. The safety by Garcia scored Piatnik and the Dragons were within 6-3. Later in the frame, a sacrifice fly by Lorenzo Cedrola cut Wisconsin's lead to two runs. Herrera got the final out of the inning with that lead still intact.

Rodrigo Benoit entered the game in the top of the ninth and pitched a scoreless inning while allowing one hit and striking out two to record his ninth save of the season. 

The final out officially gave the win to Hintzen. It was his first professional victory.
Game two of the series is set for Thursday night. Christian Taugner (6-6, 3.52) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Patrick McGuff (1-0, 0.00) is set to start for the Dragons. Game time is 7:05pm.
Thursday night features a rehabilitation appearance by Brewers catcher Manny Piña as the starting designated hitter for Wisconsin. 

The game is also the start of the most wonderful time of the year as the Timber Rattlers celebrate with Christmas Classics in July. There will be carols, Santa, and all the Yuletide trappings, including a Christmas Sale in the Snake Pit Team Store starting at 5:30pm. All items (excluding game worn jerseys, rummage items, and Kids' Crew memberships) will be available at a 30% discount. The first 1,000 fans to attend this game will receive a Green & Gold Timber Rattlers winter cap from Elite Smiles Dental.

You can get even more into the Christmas spirit by bringing a non-perishable food item to donate to the Bush's Beans Team Up Against Hunger Food Drive. 

Fans of legal drinking age may enjoy 12-ounce craft beers for $2. Cher-Make brats are also just $2 and they are available for everyone. Beers from Fox River Brewing Company, Badger Club Amber, and many, many more will be available on Craft Brews & Brats Night with 95.9, KISS-FM. The Thursday Concert Series continues with The Moonlighters performing in the Fox Communities Credit Union Fox Club starting after the seventh inning.
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 6:45pm. The broadcast is also available on the Tune In and IHeart Radio apps. Fans with Spectrum cable may watch the game on Spectrum Sports starting at 7:00pm. Subscribers to MiLB.tv can watch the game over the internet.