(WNFL) BURLINGTON, IA – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers defeated the Burlington Bees 5-2 on Saturday night at Community Field for their third straight win. The Rattlers scored four times in the top of the fourth inning to erase an early deficit on the way to the victory.
Burlington (36-44 overall, 4-6 second half) took the lead in the second inning. Alexi Rivera singled to start the inning and stole second. Jared Walsh singled to right with one out and Rivera score to put the Bees up 1-0.The Rattlers (40-40, 6-4) took the lead with a two-out rally in the top of the fourth. Max McDowell singled to start the inning, but on second with two away when Burlington starting pitcher Ronnie Glenn lost control. Juan Ortiz was hit by a pitch and Mitch Ghelfi drew a walk to load the bases. Troy Stokes, Jr. also drew a walk to force in McDowell from third and the game was tied 1-1.Brandon Diaz put the Rattlers in front with a two-run single to center. Sthervin Matos capped the inning with a single to score Stokes and the Rattlers were up 4-1.Burlington threatened for a big inning in the bottom of the fourth against Wisconsin starter Jordan Yamamoto. Walsh doubled and Webster Rivas walked with one out. Michael Pierson smacked a double off the wall in right-center to score Walsh and the Bees trailed 4-2 with runners at second and third with one out. But, Yamamoto got out of the inning with a strikeout and a grounder to second to keep the Rattlers up by two runs.Wisconsin got that run back in the top of the fifth. McDowell walked and Isan Diaz singled with one out. Jake Gatewood followed with an RBI single to left and the Rattlers were up 5-2. Gatewood, who went 2-for-4 in Saturday’s game, extended his hitting streak to seven games. He is 13-for-30 during this streak.Yamamoto tossed six innings, scattered eight hits, allowed two runs, and walked one in the game to earn his fourth win of the season. He also struck out eight to match his single-game high as a professional.Alex Farina pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Nate Griep hit a pair of Burlington batters in the ninth, but did not allow a run as he closed out his twelfth save of the season.
