PEORIA, IL – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers fought back from almost being no-hit by the Peoria Chiefs to take a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the tenth inning at Dozer Park on Friday night. However, the first-place Chiefs scored twice with two outs in the bottom of the tenth, with Jeremy Crooks being hit by a pitch with two outs and the bases loaded to score the game-winning run.
Peoria outhit the Rattlers 11-2 in the game.
The Chiefs (11-5 second half, 44-38 overall) took the lead in the bottom of the second on back-to-back doubles by Ramon Mendoza and Osvaldo Tovalin.
Peoria nearly added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth. They had runners on the corners with two outs. Alex Iadisernia sent a hard grounder towards right field. Wisconsin second baseman Jose Acosta made a diving stop on the edge of the outfield grass, got to his feet, and fired a strike to first to get the final out of the inning.
Tyler Woessner, the Wisconsin starter, pitched seven innings and scattered eight hits to allow one run for his seventh quality start of the season. Woessner, who walked none and struck out two, set a new single-game high for innings pitched as a professional
Wisconsin (8-8, 34-46) couldn’t solve Peoria starter Trent Baker. The right-hander walked three and struck out six over six hitless innings. He retired the final eight batters he faced before turning the game over to the Peoria bullpen.
Joseph King was first out of the bullpen for the Chiefs, and he set down the side in order in the seventh. King got the first out in the eighth, too.
Then, Ernesto Martínez Jr broke up the no-hitter and the shutout with a line drive homer to center. The homer was the seventh of the season for Martínez.
Sam Gardner pitched a scoreless eighth and a scoreless ninth to send the game to extra innings.
Ben Metzinger put Wisconsin in front with a double to right in the top of the tenth inning. The Rattlers had runners at second and third with one out but couldn’t push across any insurance runs and it would cost them.
Justin King retired the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the tenth with Jeremy Rivas started the frame as the tying run at second base. King was ahead of Iadisernia 0-1 before Iadisernia lined a single to left. It was just enough to score Rivas to even the score.
Iadisernia, who took second on the throw, would advance to third on a wild pitch right before Nathan Church walked. Church would steal second without a throw as RJ Yeager took a ball and the Rattlers elected to intentionally walk Yeager.
King hit Crooks with the first pitch of the plate appearance to force home the winning run.
Peoria clinched the season series with the Timber Rattlers with Friday’s win. They hold an 11-8 edge with just two games left between the two teams this season. The Chiefs now hold the tie-breaker over the Rattlers should the teams end the regular season tied for the second-half playoff spot in the West Division.
Robert Moore was 0-for-4 in the game and his on-base streak ended at 27 games.
Game two of the series is Saturday night at Dozer Park. Jacob Misiorowski (1-0, 1.83) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Peoria plans to send Zane Mills (4-2, 1.97) to the mound. Game time is 6:35pm.
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