Rattlers Can't Hold Late Lead in 6-3 Loss at Peoria

PEORIA, IL - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers unplanned two-week odyssey away from home came to a disappointing end with a 6-3 loss to the Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Park on Sunday evening. The Rattlers had a 2-1 lead heading into the seventh inning stretch, but the Chiefs scored five times in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead and put the game away.

Wisconsin (3-13) had a chance to go up early when they put two on with no outs in the third inning. KJ Harrison walked and Payton Henry singled to start the inning and they were bunted into scoring position. But, both runners were left stranded when the inning ended.
Juan Yepez gave the Chiefs (8-6) the lead in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out RBI single that scored Yariel Gonzalez from second base. Yepez has driven in thirteen runs for the Chiefs this season and seven of those RBI are against the Timber Rattlers.

Wisconsin scratched their way to the lead with single runs in the sixth and seventh. Peoria starting pitcher Alvaro Seijas left the game with two on and two out in the sixth. Demi Orimoloye greeted reliever Kevin Hamann with an infield single to load the bases. Then, Tristen Lutz drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch to force in the tying run.

The Rattlers went in front in the top of the seventh. Gabriel García sliced a two-out single to right to get Franly Mallen home from second base to give the Rattlers a 2-1 lead.

Unfortunately, the lead did not last very long.

Robbie Hitt, who had entered the game in the bottom of the sixth to get the final two outs, ran into trouble almost immediately in the seventh. Yepez doubled to start the inning. Bryce Denton followed with an RBI single to score Yepez to tie the game. The throw home to try to get Yepez missed the cutoff man and Denton wound up at second on the play. Hitt got the first out with a flyout to left, but Julio Rodriguez was next and he singled to get Denton home with the run to put the Chiefs back in front.

Peoria extended their lead to 6-2 later in the inning on an RBI single by Jonatan Machado, an RBI double by Taylor Brennan, and an RBI ground out by Elehuris Montero.

Wisconsin tried to rally in the eighth inning as Pat McInerney and Orimoloye singled to start the frame, but Wisconsin managed just one run in the frame. Gilbert Lara's RBI grounder got McInerney home to account for the final run.

The loss was the ninth in a row for the Rattlers.
The Timber Rattlers will return to Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium to start a seven-game homestand on Monday night with a game against the Clinton LumberKings. Game time on Monday is 6:35pm. 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. Subscribers to MiLB.tv can watch the game over the internet. Monday's game is also the first Timber Rattlers broadcast on Spectrum Sports for fans with Spectrum Cable.
 
Wisconsin's first home game since April 8 is a Bonus Bang for Your Buck Night with $1 Pepsi products, $1 hotdogs from Cher-make, and $1 12-ounce domestic beers. Monday is also a Qdoba Q*Monday with NASH FM 99.5 & 104.9. Purchase an entrée at any Qdoba location in Appleton, Neenah, or Oshkosh for lunch on Monday and receive a ticket to any Monday home game during the 2018 season.