The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers scored all their runs in the third inning and that was all Ryne Moore would need at ABC Supply Stadium against the Beloit Sky Carp on Thursday night. Moore and the Rattlers beat the Sky Carp 3-1 in the game and got some assistance in the playoff race with time winding down in the first half.
Ethan Murray gave the Timber Rattlers (32-22) the lead in the second inning with a lead-off home run. Wisconsin added to their lead with RBI doubles from Jose Acosta and Tristan Peters for a 3-0 advantage.
Moore allowed one hit through his first six innings as he kept the Sky Carp off balance.
In the seventh, Moore walked Nasim Nunez to start the frame. Nunez would steal second to get into scoring position. Ynmanol Marinez singled with two outs to score Nunez to get the Sky Carp on the scoreboard. Moore finished his night by striking out Davis Bradshaw to end the seventh.
Moore walked two, hit a batter, and struck out seven before turning the game and the lead over to the bullpen.
The performance by Moore continued a good stretch by Wisconsin starters in the series with Beloit. Russell Smith allowed two runs and struck out eight over 5-2/3 innings on Tuesday. Antoine Williams allowed one run and recorded five strikeouts over six innings on Wednesday.
Joey Matulovich came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning. He allowed a one-out triple to Tanner Allen but stranded him there on a shallow fly to right and a strikeout to maintain the lead.
Wisconsin called on closer Cam Robinson for the bottom of the ninth. Robinson had been called into Tuesday’s game against Beloit in the eighth inning to protect a one-run lead and wound up allowing three runs to be charged with a blown save. Thursday would be a much different story for Robinson and the Rattlers.
Robinson struck out the first batter he faced in the ninth. Then, Victor Mesa singled to bring the tying run to the plate. Robinson struck out the next two batters to close out the game and earn his league-leading twelfth save of the season.
The South Bend Cubs helped the Timber Rattlers in the playoff chase on Thursday night. The Cubs defeated the division-leading Cedar Rapids Kernels 2-0 at Four Winds Field to allow Wisconsin to pick up a game on the Kernels (35-19). The Timber Rattlers are three games behind the Kernels with twelve games left in the half.
Game four of the series is Friday night at ABC Supply Stadium. Max Lazar (1-0, 4.50) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. The Sky Carp will counter with Evan Fitterer (1-3, 5.30). Game time is 6:35pm.
