PEORIA, IL – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers cracked thirteen hits and scored six runs on Friday night against the Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Park. However, the offense could only watch as the Chiefs took advantage of four Wisconsin errors to score four unearned runs on the way to a 9-6 victory over the Rattlers, Peoria’s four straight win over Wisconsin in the series.
The Rattlers (8-16) broke a streak of nine consecutive games in which the opponents scored first by putting up three runs in the top of the first inning. Robert Moore started the inning with a one-out double. Then, Ben Metzinger, in his return to the lineup for the first time since April 26, gave Wisconsin a 2-0 lead with a long home run to left.
Darrien Miller followed with a double. Alex Hall cashed in Miller with a two-out single to right for the early three-run advantage.
Wisconsin’s defense committed three errors in the bottom of the second inning to allow the Chiefs to score two unearned runs. The first error was on shortstop Eric Brown Jr as a poor throw to first allowed Francisco Hernandez to reach with two outs. Noah Mendlinger had an RBI double to make the Rattlers pay.
The second error was on another poor throw, this one by Eduardo García, let Elijah Cabell score and Mendlinger to score from second.
Peoria (13-12) took the lead in the bottom of the third. Two walks and a single to the first three batters of the frame loaded the bases for Peoria. Jeremy Rivas and Osvaldo Tovalin had back-to-back RBI ground outs to push the Chiefs to the lead.
Miller evened the score in the top of the fifth inning with a two-out, solo home run to right-center. The homer was the first of the season for Miller.
The tie did not last long. Victor Scott reached second on grounder to first that was booted by Jesús Chirinos to start the bottom of the fifth. He would steal third, his third steal of the game and league-leading twentieth steal of the season, with one out. Jimmy Crooks drove a single through the drawn-in infield for a 5-4 lead. Tovalin added another run with another RBI grounder.
The Chiefs pulled away in the bottom of the sixth with the bottom of their order doing most of the damage. Mendlinger, the number eight hitter in Peoria’s order, homered to start the inning. Cabell made it back-to-back homers with a long home run to left.
Nathan Church kept the rally going with a double. Scott made it 9-4 with a double high off the wall in right.
The Rattlers threatened late. They loaded the bases on two walks and a single by the first three batters in the top of the eighth inning against Alfredo Ruiz. Chirinos drew a walk with one out to force in a run and bring the tying run to the plate. Then, Chris Roycroft entered from the Peoria bullpen and got the final two outs of the frame.
Moore tripled with one out in the ninth against Roycroft. Miller drove in Moore with his third hit of the night, an RBI single to right field with two outs. Roycroft dashed the Rattlers hopes when he got a game-ending 4-6-3 double play.
The four errors set a season-high in a game for the Timber Rattlers, who entered the game fourth in the Midwest League in fielding percentage. Wisconsin had committed eighteen errors in their first 23 games of the season.
Miller went 3-for-4 with a walk, three runs scored, and two RBI for the Rattlers.
Game five of the series is Saturday night at Dozer Park. Alexander Cornielle (0-0, 3.38) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Peoria will go with Alex Cornwell (2-1, 3.00) as their starter. Game time is 6:35pm.
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