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Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Loons Drown Rattlers, 8-5

July 29, 2007 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


GRAN CHUTE, WI -- The Great Lakes Loons built an 8-2 lead after the top of the fourth inning and that deficit was too much for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Sunday afternoon. The Loons topped the Rattlers 8-5 on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. James Peterson and Scott Van Slyke each had a pair of RBI for the Great Lakes. Nolan Gallagher took the loss in his Timber Rattler debut.

The Loons (11-23 second half, 45-59 overall) got on the scoreboard first. Back-to-back singles by Josh Bell and Rick Taloa started the inning. A one-out RBI grounder by Peterson knocked in Bell. A two-out double by Van Slyke drove in Taloa for a 2-0 lead.

Wisconsin (11-23, 33-69) rallied in the bottom of the second. Reed Eastley walked with one out. Jair Fernandez doubled into the corner in left and Eastley scored.

Great Lakes loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the third, but scored just one time. Eduardo Perez hit into a 6-4-3 double play and a run scored on the play for a 3-1 lead.

The Rattlers got a run in the bottom of the third on a two-out rally. Kuo Hui Lo doubled off the top of the wall in left. Alex Liddi followed with a double to the gap in leftcenter and the Rattlers were back to within a run.

But, a crucial two-out error allowed the Loons to score three times in the top of the fourth. Juan Diaz mishandled a grounder from Adolfo Gonzalez with runners on first and second and a run scored. Matt Berezay followed with a single to drive in a run. An overthrow on a play at third allowed the final run of the inning to score. Gallagher, Seattle's 4th round pick of the 2007 draft out of Stanford, left after that play. He allowed six runs -- three earned -- on seven hits with three walks and a strikeout in his first Midwest League start.

The Loon hitters went right back to work in the top of the fifth against Keith Renaud. An RBI single by Peterson and a sacrifice fly by Van Slyke accounted for the two runs in the inning and an 8-2 lead.

Wisconsin loaded the bases against Loon starting pitcher Steven Johnson in the bottom of the fifth inning and he gave way to Thomas Melgarejo. Jamie McOwen singled in a pair of runs and an RBI fielder's choice by Calvin Beamon pulled the Rattlers to within 8-5. But, Melgarejo settled down and kept the Loons in front by three.

The Rattlers threatened in the eighth as Fernandez and McOwen singled to start the inning. But, Melgarejo struck out the next two batters. Then, Loon closer Miguel Ramirez came into the game. He got another strikeout to end the eighth. He would work a 1-2-3 ninth for his thirteenth save.

The Timber Rattlers begin an eight game road trip on Monday night. The Rattlers have a four game series with the Dayton Dragons July 30-August 2 and a four game series with the Fort Wayne Wizards August 3-6. Wisconsin sends Kyle Parker (3-8, 3.01) to the hill at Fifth Third Field tomorrow night. The Dragons have Jordan Smith (8-6, 3.39) as their scheduled starting pitcher. Game time is 6:00pm CDT/7:00pm EDT.

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Midwest League Stories from July 29, 2007


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