(WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS) GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Beloit Sky Carp rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 5-4 in game one of a doubleheader at Neuroscience Group Field on Saturday afternoon in the season opening game for both teams.
Wisconsin (0-1) took advantage of five walks, five wild pitches, and a balk to score three times in the bottom of the first inning.
Braylon Payne drew a leadoff walk against Beloit starting pitcher Liomar Rodriguez. Then, Rodriguez threw three straight wild pitches with Luis Peña at the plate to allow Payne to come around and score the first run of the game.
Rodriguez walked the next two batters to load the bases before uncorking another wild pitch to allow Peña to score the second run of the game.
A balk followed moments later to let in Wisconsin’s third run.
The Rattlers made the score 4-0 with a run in the bottom of the second. Peña walked with one out and went to third on a single by Andrew Fischer. The duo pulled a double steal with Peña breaking for the plate on the throw to second. Peña was able to beat the return throw to the plate to score.
Beloit (1-0) bounced back in the top of the third. Wisconsin starting pitcher Bryce Meccage gave up back-to-back singles to start the inning before Brandon Compton lined into a double play. However, Meccage walked the next two batters to load the bases and end his day.
Yerlin Rodriguez took over on the mound for Wisconsin but walked Drew Faurot to force in a run. Cody Schrier followed with a two-run single to right to cut Wisconsin’s lead to one run.
In the top of the sixth, Beloit tied the game against Wande Torres, the third Wisconsin pitcher of the game. The bases were loaded with one out after two walks and a single when Torres hit Chase Jaworsky with a pitch to force in the tying run.
Michael Fowler relieved Torres and struck out the next two batters to keep the game tied.
Connor Caskenette untied the score with a lead-off home run against Fowler in the top of the seventh.
The Rattlers had a chance in the bottom of the seventh. Peña started the frame with a walk and Josh Adamczewski put runners on the corners with a one-out single. Beloit pitcher Juan Reynoso escaped the jam with a strikeout and a ground out to end the game and collect the save.
The pitchers of both teams combined for 23 walks while the hitters went a combined 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position on a frigid afternoon.
GAME TWO
The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers hit three homers and rode a two-out, five-run rally in the bottom of the fifth inning to rally past the Beloit Sky Carp in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader at Neuroscience Group Field. The home team also withstood a late rally from Beloit to earn an 8-7 victory.
Braylon Payne powered Wisconsin (1-1) to the lead in the bottom of the first with a lead-off home run to right-center.
Beloit (1-1) bounced back to take the lead on a two-out, two-run double by Starlyn Caba in the top of the third.
The Timber Rattlers used the long ball to go back in front in their half of the third. Marco Dinges launched a long, two-run home run to left-center .
Caba struck again in the top of the fifth with a two-run single to vault the Sky Carp to a 4-3 lead.
The chances of a comeback looked bleak for the Rattlers in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs and none on base after Beloit reliever Brayan Mendoza struck out the first two Wisconsin batters of the frame. Then, Mendoza walked Daniel Dickinson, hit Dinges, and walked Andrew Fischer to load the bases.
The Sky Carp called for reliever Xavier Cardenas to get them out of the jam. It appeared that he would do that when Tayden Hall sent a popup to foul territory near third base. The wind had other ideas as it blew the ball back into fair territory and out of the reach of Beloit third baseman Wilfredo Lara. The ball dropped in for a two-run single and a 5-4 Rattlers advantage.
Eric Bitonti drilled the next pitch into the Wisconsin bullpen for a three-run home run and a comfortable 8-4 lead.
Beloit would load the bases with two outs in their last at bat during the seventh on three walks by Jesus Flores. Cam Cannarella made it close with a two-run single. Wilson Weber tightened the game to a one run with an RBI single to force Wisconsin to go to Bryan Rivera to close out the contest.
Rivera earned the save by getting the final out on a deep fly to center. That earned the split in the doubleheader.
The Timber Rattlers are off on Monday. They will return to action on Tuesday against the Quad Cities River Bandits at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa. Game time is 6:30pm.
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