The Great Lakes Loons rode a two-run home run in the first inning and two-hit pitching from two pitchers to a 3-0 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Friday night at Dow Diamond.  The loss was the third straight for the Rattlers.

Jose Ramos put the Loons (36-25) in front in the first inning with a two-out, two-run home run to center.

The Timber Rattlers (35-25) couldn’t manage a hit off Loons starting pitcher Kyle Hurt, who worked four innings, walked three, and struck out eight.

Rattlers starting pitcher Justin Jarvis pitched six innings and allowed one hit after the home run by Ramos.  Jarvis walked three and struck out eleven over his six frames.  The eleven strikeouts set a new single-game high as a pro for Jarvis.

Wisconsin got their first hit in the seventh inning.  Wes Clarke singled to left against reliever Lael Lockhart to start the frame.  Lockhart would pick Clarke off first a few moments later.

Great Lakes added a run in the eighth against reliever Robbie Baker.   Alex De Jesus singled to start the inning.  Eddys Leonard followed with a single to right that was misplayed by Joe Gray Jr for an error to let De Jesus score the third run of the game,

In the ninth, Tristan Peters singled with one out for the Rattlers second hit of the game.  Lockhart closed out the game with back-to-back strikeouts to give him six in five innings and his second win of the season.

The loss dropped Wisconsin’s elimination number in the first-half, Western Division playoff race to two.

Game five of the series is Saturday night at Dow Diamond.  James Meeker (4-2, 3.98) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers.  The Loons have named Kendall Williams (1-3, 3.24) as their starter.  Game time is 6:05pm CDT.