One secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes. – Benjamin Disraeli

It became a dark and stormy night…

Burlington 2
Wisconsin 4
Boxscore | Game Story

Austin Blaski was a 21st round pick out of a very good DIII school.  He was given an opportunity in the Timber Rattlers rotation when there was an injury in Brevard County that called for Brent Suter to head up to the Florida State League.  Blaski has made three starts since April 28:  16IP, 10 H, 6R, 3ER, 6BB, 10K.   He went after it on Saturday and earned the win.  In case you missed it he was at 97 pitches-61 strikes.

Orlando Arcia was discussed during the interview with Dusty Rhodes that aired between games of Friday’s doubleheader.  Dusty talked about how Arcia has been making good contact, how he doesn’t strikeout, and how he has a good idea on how to play the game.

Arcia was down 0-2 in the second inning against Pat Lowery.  He worked the count full and smacked a single.  By the stats, Arcia has struck out just 11 times in 103 at bats this season.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Arcia was at third with one out.  Tyrone Taylor struck out, but the ball popped away from the catcher and he had to throw down to first base for the out.  Arcia timed it perfectly and beat the throw home to score what turned out to be an important run.

In the top of the eighth inning, Wendell Soto was at second with one out.  Anthony Bemboom sent a grounder towards short.  Third baseman Mike Garza came over to cut off the ball and throw to first for the out.  Soto took off for third with no one covering….Little did he know….Arcia broke for third when he saw Garza was going to make the throw.  First baseman Adam Giacalone hit Arcia with a strike to third and the Rattlers shortstop dropped a quick tag on Soto to end the inning.

Orlando Arcia doesn’t turn 19 until August 4.

Weird weather as you can see in the photo above.  That is from the bottom of the sixth inning.  It got really dark and rainy.

I put this on twitter, but for those of you who are not on that particular social media:

There were six runs in tonight’s Wisconsin-Burlington game. One run scored on a hit…

— Chris Mehring (@CMehring) May 12, 2013

The others were: Sac Fly, Passed ball, E-2, Wild Pitch, & scoring from third on a throw to first after a strikeout.

— Chris Mehring (@CMehring) May 12, 2013

Alfredo Rodriguez was the Timber Rattlers player who had the only RBI hit and even THAT was weird.  He doubled down the third base line to drive in Taylor from first base.  The weird part was the throw to the plate hitting Taylor as he ran for home.  Watch it in the highlights.

Highlights:

Sleep fast!  First pitch at 1:05pm tomorrow as the Rattlers try to get above .500 for the first time since they were 2-1 on April 6.

PHOTOS:

Giacalone’s sacrifice fly.

This was one of Blaski’s seven strikeouts.

I think I took this picture to show where there is some clear sky…..out beyond the right field fence.

Taylor Wall. Save #4.

They say that the best weapon is the one you never have to fire. I respectfully disagree. I prefer the weapon you only have to fire once. That’s how Dad did it, that’s how America does it, and it’s worked out pretty well so far. – Tony Stark

Victor Roache heads to the dugout after his three-run home run in the sixth inning of game one.

Game 1
LumberKings 3
Timber Rattlers 4
Boxscore | Game Story

Game 2
LumberKings 7
Timber Rattlers 0
Boxscore | Game Story

Watch the game one highlights. Skip ahead to :43 for the Victor Roache home run if you want. Good Lord.

Here’s the photo I took of the ball hit back at Magnifico that knocked his glove off in game one:

I saw ’00 ‘on the pitch speed indicator one time in the first game for Magnifico.  ’00′ would be 100 since it does not reach triple digits.  The pitch was a low fastball that missed the strike zone.  I saw a some 96s and a couple of 95s in there for Magnifico, too.  But the main thing was the only walk he allowed was an intentional pass in the sixth inning.

Parker Berberet and Matt Erickson were thrown out of the game in the top of the third inning in game one.  In case you missed it:

Dario Pizzano doubled into the left field corner and Villasuso headed for home [from first base]. The relay throw from shortstop Orlando Arcia beat Villasuso to the plate by ten feet. But, plate umpire Jeremie Rehak ruled that Villasuso eluded the tag and ruled the Clinton base runner safe.

Timber Rattlers catcher Parker Berberet argued the call briefly before being ejected as manager Matt Erickson raced out to prevent his backstop getting the thumb. After a few more moments, Erickson was ejected from the game, too.

Erickson was fine until he went to the plate to point out by how much the throw to the plate beat Villasuso.  Walking to the plate and holding his arms out while saying BY THIS MUCH is going to get you run.

The runner looked out. Berberet doesn’t react that way if he didn’t tag him. The manager doesn’t react that way if he didn’t think Berberet didn’t tag him. Unfortunately, it looked like Berberet bumped the umpire. We’ll have to wait and see what happens with that.

Tyrone Taylor had the home run to start the rally in game one.  He also had one of two hits in game two.  That’s a four game hitting streak at 5-for-12.

There were no highlights for Game two. None. Let’s just put that one behind us for now.

Series with the Burlington Bees starts on Saturday.  Tip: Burlington used five relievers in their doubleheader with Kane County on Friday night.  The Rattlers used two in their doubleheader on Friday.

Because in a split second, it’s gone. – Ayrton Senna

Parker Berberet heads to the mound to congratulate Tyler Wagner on his complete game shutout in the first game of the doubleheader.

Game 1
LumberKings 0
Timber Rattlers 5
Boxscore | Game Story

Game 2
LumberKings 4
Timber Rattlers 2
Boxscore | Game Story

Tyler Wagner with 95 pitches/67 strikes in his complete game shutout in game one.  Ten strikeouts and only two walks.  Very well done by the former closer from Utah.

However, there was a point in the game where it could have turned.  The LumberKings had runners at first and second with one out in the top of the sixth.  But, Wagner got Dario Pizzano to ground into an inning ending 6-4-3 double play.

The Rattlers could have blown the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth inning.  There were four walks and one single in five batters, but only one run scored.  Some adventures in base running kept that frame from getting way out of hand.

A point in the second game that will have the new school thinkers rejoicing.  The Rattlers were up 2-1 in the sixth inning.  Pizzano doubled to leadoff the inning.  Wisconsin was playing for the sacrifice bunt against Tyler Marlette.  But, Marlette showed no signs of bunting.  He swung away and lined a triple to right-center.  That drove in the tying run and set up the eventual go ahead RBI single.

Mike Strong was in spots of trouble through his game.  Clinton had a runner in scoring position in all six innings against Strong.  They had eight hits against him and six were for extra bases and it finally got to him late in the game.

Alfredo Rodriguez keeps hitting the ball hard, but keeps running into some bad luck.  He did single in a run in the third inning with a line shot through a drawn-in infield.  But, in the fifth inning, he sent a line drive to center that was right at Guillermo Pimentel for an out.

Speaking of bad luck, the Jono Arnold shattered Gaby Guerrero’s bat in the sixth inning.  But, the ball dropped into left field for an RBI single that put Clinton up 3-2.

Mike Garza tripled and singled in game two.  He had missed four games after getting hurt in his 4-hit game at Lansing on May 3.  By the way, he had hits in six straight at bats.  Garza had hits in his last four at bats on that game in Lansing and two hits in his first four at bats in the nightcap against Clinton.

I’m not sure HOW Brock Hebert held onto the ball for the final out on Clint Coulter’s popup after his left fielder ran into him in the bottom of the sixth inning.  But, he did and that prevented the Timber Rattlers from scoring at least one run and maybe two.

The  Timber Rattlers won six games in a row to get back to the .500 mark for the first time since they were 4-4 on April 15.   They get to try to get back to .500 again on Thursday night.

Game 1 Video Highlights:

Game 2 Video Highlights: