LANSING – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers took advantage of several key walks to beat the Lansing Lugnuts Saturday night 5-2 before 5,403 fans on a rainy night at Oldsmobile Park. The loss sent the Lugnuts to their sixth series defeat in seven tries against the Western Division this season.

The two teams waited out a 33 minute rain delay before the game finally got underway, as the game was played through a steady rain for most of the night.

It was a scoreless game until the fourth inning when Wisconsin was able to take the lead off of Lansing starting pitcher Brad Mills. Mills walked the first two batters of the inning and hit the third to load the bases for the Rattlers. Ron Garth's one-out RBI groundout plated Edilio Colina, making it a 1-0 game. Eddy Hernandez followed that with a double to left-center field that brought home both Scott Robinson and Alex Liddi that pushed the lead to 3-0.

The Rattlers final two runs came home in the next frame on Scott Robinson's two-run homer to right field that extended the advantage to 5-0. Wisconsin scored all of their runs on just four hits during the game.

Michael Pineda and the Timber Rattler pitching staff took over from there, as they held the Lugnuts off of the scoreboard for the first eight innings. Pineda (3-0) picked up the win after throwing 5 1/3 innings while allowing just three hits to Lansing. He also fanned seven.

Lansing tried to mount a comeback in the ninth against reliever Shawn Kelley. Mike McDade's RBI single score Raul Barron to put the Lugnuts on the board at 5-1. The Lugnuts were then able to load the bases with one out, bringing the tying run to the plate. However they could only manage one more run in the inning.

Mills (1-2) shouldered the loss for Lansing by allowing all five Timber Rattler runs in five innings of work. He surrendered just three hits and fanned seven batter, but he also walked five in the start.

Lansing (15-13) will host the Beloit Snappers (12-17) for a three-game series that begins Sunday afternoon at Oldsmobile Park. Randy Boone (3-0, 2.11) will take the mound for the Lugnuts. He will be opposed by Beloit's Brian Kirwan (2-1, 3.71).

Sunday is also Kids Day with Pepsi Kids Run the Bases immediately following the game. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.

AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS
4th: Eddy Hernandez's double extends Wisconsin's lead.
5th: Scott Robinson's homer makes it 5-0.