One bad inning is all it took for the Peoria Chiefs to defeat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers last night.
The Appleton-based Rattlers entered the 5th inning up 1-0, but Chiefs 3rd baseman Jacob Buchberger and 1st baseman Thomas Francisco combined to drive in three runs, to take the 3-1 win in Peoria Illinois.
Rattlers Starting Pitcher Russel Smith was doing well up until that inning, as he had accumulated six strikeouts, and only allowed two hits excluding the game-deciding hits. Zach Mort came on in relief for the final three and one-third innings allowing only two more hits.
The only Rattler run came off the bat of Catcher Darrien Miller, who smashed a one-run homer in the second inning.
The loss allowed the Cedar Rapids Kernels to take a two-game lead over Wisconsin in the Midwest League’s West Division, with the Chiefs now five games back.
The Rattlers will try to end their two-game skid today with Max Lazar taking the mound for an 11:05 start this morning.
