(WNFL) BURLINGTON, IA – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers defeated the Burlington Bees 4-2 Friday night at Community Field in game one of a three game series. Jake Gatewood and Mitch Ghelfi combined for six of Wisconsin’s seven this and both had a hand in all four runs for the Rattlers.
Wisconsin (39-40 overall, 5-4 second half) took the lead with a two-out rally in the top of the fourth. Jake Gatewood doubled to right-center and would move to third on a wild pitch. David Denson drew a walk to extend the inning. Mitch Ghelfi got Gatewood home with a single to left.The Bees (36-43, 4-5) responded with a two-out rally of their own in the bottom of the fifth. Tanner Lubach reached on an infield single. Michael Pierson tied the game with a triple to the gap in left-center. Michael Hermosillo was next and he singled to drive in Pierson to give the Bees the lead.The Rattlers rallied to tie the game in the top of the seventh inning against reliever Jhonny Polanco. Ghelfi singled to start the inning. Brandon Diaz singled with one out to send Ghelfi to third. A wild pitch by Polanco allowed Ghelfi to score the tying run.Gatewood and Ghelfi combined to provide the Rattlers with the winning margin in the top of the eighth inning against reliever Tyler Watson. Isan Diaz started the rally when he reached on a walk with one out. Diaz stole second and went to third on a wild pitch by Watson. Gatewood lined a double to left to score Diaz with the go-ahead run. Ghelfi singled to left with two outs to knock in Gatewood with an insurance run for a 4-2 lead.Devin Williams, who came on in the bottom of the seventh, pitched three scoreless innings to pick up his fourth win of the season. Williams pitched around a one out single in the ninth to close out the game.
