GRAND CHUTE, WI – Luis Lameda picked a great time for his first hit as a Wisconsin Timber Rattler. The third baseman had been 0-for-13 after his call up to Wisconsin from the Wilson Warbirds. He delivered a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 4-4 tie in game two of Saturday’s doubleheader at Neuroscience Group Field. Wisconsin picked up the 6-4 win and a twinbill sweep.
Wisconsin (53-43 overall, 19-15 second half) struck early and often with a four-run first inning. Luis Peña started the rally with a single and he moved to second on a wild pitch. Daniel Dickinson drove in Peña with a one-out single to right for a 1-0 lead. Eric Bitonti followed with a single. Luis Castillo launched a 3-0 changeup from Lansing starting pitcher Tucker Novotny over the wall in right for his thirteenth home run of the season and a 4-0 lead.
The Lugnuts (41-57, 12-22) fought back to tie the game with two runs in the second and two runs in the fourth. Wisconsin starter Jayden Dubanewicz had runners at first and second with two outs and made a wild pickoff throw to second that allowed both runners to move into scoring position. Gunner Gouldsmith drove in both runners with a single to right.
Gouldsmith came to the plate with runners at first and second in the fourth inning and lined a double to right-center to knock in both runs and tie the game. Dubanewicz struck out the next two batters to strand Gouldsmith and keep the game tied.
Jacob Morrison, in his Timber Rattlers debut, took over for Dubanewicz to start the fifth inning. He pitched around an error in the fifth and a one-out double in the sixth to hold the line.
The winning rally started for the Rattlers on a two-out single by Tyler Rodriguez in the bottom of the sixth against Lansing reliever Riley Huge. He stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. Huge walked Filippo Di Turi to keep the inning alive for Lameda.
Lameda laced the first pitch from Huge to left-center. Rodriguez scored easily. Di Turi raced around the bases and beat the throw to the plate for a 6-4 lead.
Morrison walked the first batter of the seventh. Then, Milwaukee’s third round pick of the 2025 draft, retired the next three batters to finish of the game. Morrison allowed one hit, walked one, and struck out three as he earned his first Midwest League victory.
The victory was the third straight for Wisconsin and allowed them to clinch a series win as they are 4-1 against the Lugnuts this week.
The series finale is Sunday afternoon. Ethan Dorchies (4-7, 5.36) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Samuel Dutton (1-7, 4.62) has been named the starter for the Lugnuts. Game time at Neuroscience Group Field is 1:10pm.
Be one of the 1,000 fans in attendance on Sunday to grab your Timber Rattlers seat cushion from Titletown. Treat your furry friend to a seat in the left field grass berm for Bark in the Park, presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Please make sure your pup’s vaccinations are current and enter through the left field gate. Tito’s Handmade Vodka will donate $5 per dog – up to $2,500 this season – to Hope Highway Dog Rescue for every Bark in the Park Game.
Fans of all ages are also invited to play catch on the right field grass from noon to 12:30pm presented by TruGreen. Stick around after the game for postgame player autographs presented by Fox Cities Cards. There is also a postgame performance by Jedidiah on the first base dugout after the game as part of Faith & Family Day.
If you can’t make it to the ballpark, there are several opportunities to follow the action. Newstalk 93.9 WOSH and internet audio has the radio broadcast starting with the Community Blood Center Pregame Show at 12:50pm. CW-14 will televise the game starting at 1:00pm. Bally Sports Live will have the game on their app, too.