GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers returned to the diamond for the first time since Labor Day, 2019 with a 2-1 victory over the Beloit Snappers at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The Rattlers won their debut game in the High-A Central League behind the pitching of Victor Castañeda, the hitting of Hayden Cantrelle, and the speed and defense of Garrett Mitchell.
Clinton (0-1) took the early lead when Thomas Jones hit a one-out solo home run in the top of the first inning of Castañeda. Clinton wouldn’t have another hit until the ninth inning.
Wisconsin (1-0) tied the game in the bottom of the first and it was Mitchell and Cantrelle who combined to do it. Mitchell started the inning with an infield single. Cantrelle worked the count to 3-2 and – with Mitchell running – lined the payoff pitch to right for a double to score Mitchell easily with the tying run.
Castañeda walked a batter with two outs in the top of the second inning before retiring the next ten batters in a row to keep the game tied. He struck out eight to set a new single-game high as a professional.
The Timber Rattlers took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning and Cantrelle sparked the rally with a lead-off double. David Hamilton reached on an error to put runners on the corners and chase Beloit starting pitcher Zach McCambley from the game. Reliever Alberto Guerrero took over and got Nick Kahle to ground into a 5-4-3 double play, but Cantrelle scored on the play for a 2-1 advantage.
Wisconsin’s bullpen took over in the sixth and maintained the lead. Harold Chirino had three strikeouts over two perfect innings. Brady Schanuel issued a walk with two outs in the top of the eighth to snap a streak of 18 consecutive Snappers retired before getting the final out of the inning on a strikeout.
In the top of the ninth, Taylor Floyd took over and gave up a lead-off single to Connor Scott. A one-out wild pitch sent Scott to second with the tying run for Kameron Misner.
Misner lined a 1-0 pitch to center that was caught by Mitchell, who noticed that Scott had strayed too far from second base. Mitchell fired on target to Cantrelle covering second base to double up Scott and end the game.
The same two teams play game two at Neuroscience Group Field on Wednesday night. Nick Bennett is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Beloit has announced Bryan Hoeing as their starter. Game time is 6:35pm.
Comments