Souza Helps Rattlers Snap Losing Streak
June 12, 2007 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
DAVENPORT, IA -- Justin Souza made an emergency start and stopped Wisconsin's nine-game losing streak in its tracks. Souza, making just his second start of the season, pitched five shutout innings as the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers beat the Swing of the Quad Cities 4-2 Tuesday night at John O'Donnell Stadium. Kuo Hui Lo drove in two runs and scored the other two for the Rattler offense.
Souza was pushed into the starting role due to Monday's scheduled starter Tony Butler being a scratch and Tuesday's scheduled starter Steve Richard being moved up to start in Butler's place. Souza limited his pitch count and gave up three hits without a walk. The five innings worked by Souza was a professional high.
Alex Liddi doubled in Lo in the top of the second inning to put the Rattlers up 1-0.
Lo was the major player in the three-run third inning for the Rattlers (18-45). He tripled in a pair of runs with a drive the one hopped the centerfield wall. Lo scored the third run of the inning on a wild pitch. That wild pitch was the fourth of the game on Swing starting pitcher Blake King.
Eddy Fernandez, the newest Rattler reliever, entered the game for Souza and pitched a scoreless sixth. But, the Swing got to him in the the bottom of the seventh. Luke Gorsett and Wilmer Alvarado had back-to-back doubles to start the inning. Fernandez got out of the inning with a pair of strikeouts and a grounder back to the mound.
Quad Cities (36-28) got another run in the eighth inning. Brandon Buckman tripled with one out off Joe Kantakevich and scored on a wild pitch. But, the all-star reliever got out of the inning with the Rattlers still up 4-2.
Wisconsin closer Andrew Barb, the other all-star reliever for the Rattlers, entered in the bottom of the ninth inning and closed out the Swing. The save was the eighth of the season for Barb.
The third game of the series is set for Wednesday at noon. Kyle Parker (2-3, 1.50) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Elvis Hernandez (4-3, 2.76) will be the starter for the Swing.
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Midwest League Stories from June 12, 2007
- Loons Complete Three-Game Sweep - Great Lakes Loons
- Bees Hang On to Beat Chiefs - Burlington Bees
- Souza Helps Rattlers Snap Losing Streak - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Playoff Hopes Dwindle as Swing Lose - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Whitecaps Six-Run Rally Falls Short, 9-7 - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Dayton Drops Lansing Again - Lansing Lugnuts
- Manship Keeps Kernels Offense in Check - Beloit Sky Carp
- Chiefs Lose Close One at Burlington, 3-2 - Peoria Chiefs
- Cougars Fall in Iowa - Kane County Cougars
- Clinched! Dragons Headed to Midwest League Playoffs - Dayton Dragons
- Networks To Take Turn In Swing Broadcast Booth - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Return of the Matt - Burlington Bees
- Bases loaded walk gives Snappers nightcap, 5-4 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Kernels rally to take game one, 4-2 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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