GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Lake County Captains took advantage of three Wisconsin Timber Rattlers errors and eight walks to cruise to a 10-1 victory Thursday night at Neuroscience Group Field. Anthony Martinez went 2-for-3 with a homer, a double, and three RBI to lead Lake County to its second win of the series.
Welbyn Francisca put the Captains (61-52 overall, 24-25 second half) up 1-0 in the top of the first inning with one out on an inside-the-park homer. Francisca hit a ball off the left-centerfield wall under the scoreboard. The ball caromed back toward center field past the Rattlers outfielders. Francisca raced around the bases to beat the relay throw to the plate for his fifteenth homer of the season.
Lake County added to their lead in the fourth with the help of three errors by the Timber Rattlers. The rally started with one out on a single and a double. Garrett Howe singled to center past the drawn-in infield. Both runners scored and Howe wound up at third base after a wild throw to the plate by Sawyer Strosnider.
The Rattlers infield was still in on the grass when Tommy Hawke hit a grounder to Daniel Dickinson at second. Dickinson’s throw to the plate was wild to allow Howe to score and Hawke wound up at second.
Hawke took off for third with Rattler pitcher Ethan Dorchies still in the stretch position. Dorchies stepped off and threw wildly to third allowing Hawke to score the fourth run of the inning.
Dorchies got the second out of the inning but gave up a single to Juneiker Caceres and a two-run home run to Anthony Martinez before he could get the final out of the inning and Lake County led 7-0.
Wisconsin (61-51, 27-23) loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning against Lake County starting pitcher Harrison Bodendorf. Yannic Walther hit a line drive ticketed for left field that was snared by Jeffrey Mercedes for the final out of the inning.
The Captains added three more runs without a hit in the top of the fifth. Wisconsin reliever Yerlin Rodriguez had two outs and a runner at first but walked the next three batters to force in a run. Then, he hit a batter to force in another run. Josh Quezada took over for Rodriguez and walked in another run to give Lake County a 10-0 lead.
Wisconsin got on the scoreboard in the eighth. Cam Schuelke, the third Captains pitcher of the game, hit Strosnider with one out. Strosnider took second on defensive indifference, moved to third on a grounder, and scored on a balk by Schuelke.
Quezada, José Nova, and Michael Fowler kept the Captains in check over the final 4-1/3 innings with no hits and three strikeouts.
Melkis Hernández, who relieved Lake County starting pitcher Harrison Bodendorf with two outs in the fifth, earned the win, his sixth of the season. Hernández walked two and struck out two over 2-1/3 scoreless, hitless innings.
Dorchies allowed seven runs with only three earned over his four innings in Thursday’s game.
Game four of the series is Friday night. Wande Torres (8-5, 4.57) is the announced starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Jackson Humphries (1-6, 5.37) is the scheduled starter for the Captains. Game time is 6:40pm.
Friday is Fang’s birthday! Help Fang celebrate his special day by bringing a donation to the St. Joe’s PB&J Drive and you’ll receive a cupcake. Also, if you are one of the first 1,000 fans, you will receive a Fang logo adjustable hat presented by Children’s Wisconsin. Get in the ballpark early for the hat and to see an epic game of mascot kickball featuring Fang’s friends from around the Fox Valley prior to the Rattlers and Captains taking the field. Be sure to stick around for the post-game fireworks presented by ATC. Kids are invited to run the bases post-game courtesy of Menasha Corporation.
If you can’t make it to the ballpark, there are many ways to follow the action. Newstalk 93.9 WOSH and internet audio has the radio broadcast starting with the Community Blood Center Pregame Show at 6:20pm. Bally Sports Live will have the game on their app. The Spot Green Bay 32 will televise the game starting at 6:30pm.