Timber Rattlers Begin Homestand with Win over Peoria

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers started their seven game homestand with a nice 4-2 victory over the Peoria Chiefs Thursday night on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Jason Rogers and Chadwin Stang homered in support of solid pitching by three Wisconsin Timber Rattlers hurlers in the win.

Rogers started the scoring early with a two-out solo homer in the first inning. Rogers second blast of the season gave him at least one hit in six of the seven games Wisconsin (3-4) has played this season.

Drew Gagnon, Wisconsin's starting pitcher, worked five innings and struck out seven while allowing four hits. But, the Chiefs (3-4) got to him with a run in the fifth inning. Brad Zapenas singled with two outs and stole second. A single by Pin-Chieh Chen drove in Zapenas for the tying run.

Stang put Wisconsin in front with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the fifth. Stang's second home run of the season moved his hitting streak to five games and gave the Rattlers a 2-1 lead. Later in the inning, Parker Berberet singled in a run to make it 3-1.

The Chiefs cut into the lead in the eighth inning against reliever Tommy Toledo. The right hander had retired the first six batters he faced, but allowed a walk to Zapenas in to start the eighth. Toledo struck out the next two batters, but Rafael Lopez knocked in Zapenas with his third hit of the night.

Seth Harvey got the final out of the eighth inning and the Rattlers offense got a little insurance in the bottom of the frame. Stang walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. He took off for third on a wild pitch with Rogers at the plate and a throwing error on the play allowed him to score.

Harvey worked around a one out single in the ninth for his first Midwest League save.

Wisconsin and Peoria play game two of the series on Friday night at 6:35pm. Mark Williams (0-1, 4.50) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. The Chiefs send Jose Rosario (0-0, 1.93) to the hill.