Starting pitcher, Darden Wetherell, methodically painted the corners, setting the Rattlers’ offense up for success. Wetherell was in command from the first moment he stepped on the mound, striking out 2 in the 1st inning. Wetherell pitched the complete game with 72 pitches. “D” struck out 6, expertly walked 0, and gave up 5 hits and 1 earned run in 7 innings.
The offense put their nose to the grindstone, collecting 9 hits, putting the ball in play, taking advantage of Buffalo errors, and battling their way to a win. The Rattlers got on the board in the top of the 2nd when Michael Yzaguirre was hit by a pitch, then stole second base. Caleb Cappuccio had a 7-pitch at-bat, jacking a line drive double to LF, scoring Yzaguirre. Pitcher, Wetherell, put the ball in play with a bunt and confused the Buffaloes, causing an error and scoring Cappuccio. The Rattlers did not score again until the 5th despite a double from Caden Crofts in the 3rd. Crofts led off the 5th with a hard hit that deflected off the pitcher’s glove. Next, Ryland Rangel got on with a fantastic bunt down the first base line that discombobulated the Buffaloes. Elias Leon moved Crofts to third with a fielder’s choice and “Big Mike” Yzaguirre struck again with an RBI fielder’s choice ground ball, bringing Crofts across the plate and the score to 3-0. The Rattlers scored run #4 in the top of the 7th when “The Ryland” Rangel crushed a ball into right CF for a double. Leon advanced Keegan Baldwin, pinch runner for Rangel, to third with a ground ball single to LF, and “Big Mike” got another RBI with a ball in play to SS that scored Baldwin.
Game 2 will be at North East Sports Park tonight, Friday, May 3 @ 7:30 pm. Tickets available at www.hometownticketing.com
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