(WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS) BELOIT, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers got a solid start from J.D. Thompson, four scoreless innings of relief from the bullpen, some key hits, and a flawless defense to beat the Beloit Sky Carp 4-2 at ABC Supply Stadium on Wednesday night. The victory tightens the race between division-leading Beloit and the Rattlers, who have won two in a row to open the road series.
Luis Peña started the game with a triple on the first pitch from Beloit starting pitcher Brayan Mendoza. Daniel Dickinson knocked in Peña with an infield single for Wisconsin’s early 1-0 lead.
The Rattlers (55-44 overall, 21-16 second half) doubled their lead with a two-out rally in the top of the second. Luiyin Alastre singled and moved to second on a wild pitch. Blayberg Diaz singled up the middle to score Alastre for a 2-0 lead.
Beloit (50-53, 23-15) responded with a two-out rally in the bottom of the second. Thompson had retired the first five batters he faced before walking Esmil Valencia to extend the Sky Carp second. Valencia stole second and scored on a bloop single by Emilio Barreras.
The stolen base came into play for the Sky Carp again in the bottom of the third. Dillon Head singled with one out and stole second, his 34th steal of the season and Beloit’s 241st as a team. Then, Jesús Hernandez singled and Head raced home with the tying run.
In the fifth, Alastre and Peña got Wisconsin back in front. Alastre singled and moved to second on a ground out. Peña followed with a sharp single to center to send Alastre home with the go-ahead run.
Thompson rebounded after the RBI single by Hernandez as he retired the final seven batters he faced. Thompson, a second round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers out of Vanderbilt in 2025, set new professional, single-game highs for strikeouts (7) and innings pitched (5) as he left the game with the lead and a chance for his first professional win.
Wisconsin added to that lead in the top of the eighth inning. Braylon Payne scored from third on a wild pitch by Beloit reliever Justin Storm with two outs for a 4-2 lead.
Three Rattler relievers did their job to close out the game. José Meneses pitched two perfect innings with a strikeout as the first pitcher out of the Wisconsin bullpen. Michael Fowler was next. He pitched around a lead-off single and a wild pitch that put a runner on second with no outs.
Yerlin Rodriguez got the bottom of the ninth. He walked the first two batters to bring the winning run to the plate for Beloit. Rodriguez regrouped to get the first out on a popout to shallow left. He ended the game by getting Brian Sanchez to ground into a 4-6-3 double play for his fourth save of the season.
Dickinson, Peña, and Alastre each had two hits in the game.
The win has moved the Timber Rattlers to within 1-1/2 games of the Sky Carp for the second half West Division playoff spot.
Game three of the series is Thursday night at ABC Supply Stadium. Jacob Morrison (1-0, 0.00) is the scheduled starter for the Timber Rattlers as he makes his first start with Wisconsin. The Sky Carp have named Nate Payne (3-6, 4.1) as their starter.
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