Rattlers Club LumberKings

CLINTON, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers started their seven-game road trip with a 10-4 victory over the Clinton LumberKings at Ashford University Field. Jay Feliciano reached base five times and scored four runs as Payton Henry homered and drove in three runs to lead the offense on a cool night on the Mississippi River.
Clinton (2-2) grabbed the early lead with a run in the first inning off Wisconsin starting pitcher Dylan File. Louis Boyd singled with one out. Ariel Sandoval was next and he doubled into the left field corner and Boyd raced home for the 1-0 lead.

File didn't allow anything else on the night. The right-hander gave up five hits, walked one, and struck out five over five innings to keep the LumberKings in check.

Wisconsin (2-2) didn't stay down for long as they rallied for four runs in the top of the second inning.   The first three batters reached to load the bases. Then, Feliciano cracked a double to drive in two runs and the Rattlers took a lead they would never lose.
 

Henry was next and he collected his first hit of the game with an RBI single. Demi Orimoloye capped the frame with a sacrifice fly and the Rattlers had a 4-1 advantage.

The Rattlers added to their lead in the fourth inning and it was Feliciano and Henry to started the rally. Feliciano singled to start the inning and Henry followed with an opposite-field homer to right for his first home run of the season. Pat McInerney padded the lead with another sacrifice fly later in the inning to make the score 7-1.

Feliciano set up two more runs in the fifth inning. Gilbert Lara walked and Feliciano cracked another double to put runners at second and third. A balk by reliever Chris Castellanos allowed Lara to score and move Feliciano to third. Nick Roscetti would get an RBI double to drive in Feliciano to make it 9-1.

Wisconsin's final run crossed the plate in the seventh inning. Feliciano was hit by a pitch to start the frame. Harrison would double to get Feliciano to third base. Roscetti grounded out to short to send Feliciano across the plate for the fourth time.

Clinton did get three runs in the bottom of the seventh against reliever Joaquín De La Cruz to cut into the Wisconsin lead. Louis Boyd drove in the first run of the inning with a single. Then, Sandoval hit a long home run to left. The homer was the third of the season for Sandoval. But, that was as close as the LumberKings would get.
Game two of the series is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at Ashford University Field. Christian Taugner is scheduled to start for the Rattlers as he makes his 2018 debut. Ryne Inman is set to start and make his 2018 debut for the LumberKings. Game time is noon.
The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Pregame Show at 11:40am. The broadcast is also available on the TuneIn Radio and IHeartRadio apps.