Butler Goes the Distance
August 26, 2007 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
BURLINGTON, IA -- Wisconsin Timber Rattler Tony Butler tossed a complete game four-hit shutout in a 7-0 win over the Burlington Bees on Sunday afternoon at Community Field. Joe White had three hits and an RBI and Calvin Beamon drove in a pair of runs to pace the offense. The story on the day was Butler. He walked two and struck out eight for his first shutout. The nine-inning, complete game shutout was the first by a Rattler pitcher since the 2005 season.
Wisconsin (25-36 second half, 5-10 overall) got a two-out RBI double from Jamie McOwen in the top of the second inning to go in front 1-0. That would be all Butler would need. The Bees (29-32, 59-71) got two runners to third base --both getting there with two outs in the inning -- on the afternoon.
The Rattlers added to their lead with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Guy Welsh singled in Kuo Hui Lo for a 2-0 lead. In the fifth, Leury Bonilla singled in Juan Diaz for a 3-0 advantage.
A throwing error by third baseman Jesus Soto allowed one Rattler run to score in the seventh inning. Joe White's third hit of the day was an RBI single in the seventh and put the Rattlers up 5-0.
Butler was never in a serious jam on the day, but did get into trouble until the bottom of the seventh. A one out walk and a two out single put two Burlington runners on base for the first time in the game. To complicate matters, Michael Thompson is among the league leaders in home runs with nineteen. Then, Butler fell behind Thompson 3-0. But, Thompson flew out to center to end the inning.
The Rattlers tacked on two more runs in the top of the eighth on a two-run single by Calvin Beamon.
Butler pitched a 1-2-3 eighth and retired the first two batters of the ninth before walking Luis Castillo. Butler retired Kurt Mertins on a foul ball to first to complete his gem.
The last Timber Rattler pitcher to toss a nine-inning complete game shutout was Aaron Jensen. On April 30, 2005, Jensen shutout the South Bend Silver Hawks on four hits over nine innings at South Bend in a 4-0 Rattler win. Jensen struck out two and walked two in that game.
The final game of the series between the Rattlers and Bees is Monday night. Tom Ellis (0-0, 2.70) will make his first Midwest League start for the Timber Rattlers. Ed Cegarra (1-5, 5.03) is set to be the starting pitcher for the Bees. Game time is 7:00pm.
• Discuss this story on the Midwest League message board...
Midwest League Stories from August 26, 2007
- Loons Rally Falls Short In Lansing - Great Lakes Loons
- Butler Does it to the Bees - Burlington Bees
- Cougars Pitch Another Shutout - Kane County Cougars
- Chiefs Offense Silenced in 2-1 Loss to Beloit - Peoria Chiefs
- Butler Goes the Distance - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Swing Walk Off with Win in 11th - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Lugnuts Survive Late Rally - Lansing Lugnuts
- Offense Quieted after Early Homer, Caps Fall to Dragons - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Dragons Figure Out Whitecaps, Win 9-3 - Dayton Dragons
- Garrett White, Adolfo Gonzalez Promoted - Great Lakes Loons
- Kernels win 10th in a row; Herndon wins 12th - Cedar Rapids Kernels
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
