THE RATTLERS WIN ON THE 4TH OF JULY, 2-1 Jeff Johnson got his first win of the season San Luis Obispo, CA (July 4, 2010) – On 4th of July, the Rattlers got the win while playing America’s favorite sport, baseball, on our nation’s birthday. The Rattlers scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning off of a passed ball. The Baron’s only run was an unearned run. The final scored was 2-1. Nigel Morton (Southwest Baptist) singled with two in the bottom of the first inning with two out and stole second base. He leads the team in stolen bases. Zach Steele scored both of the Rattlers runs Brandon Lee (Cornell University) singled with one out in the second inning. The MLB Academy Barons scored their only run in the third inning off of zero hits and one error. Todd Simko (Cuesta College) got his third start of the season and pitched five great innings. He gave up two hits, one unearned run, three walks, and struck out four. Robert Vickers (College of the Canyons) reached on catcher’s interference to start off the bottom of the third inning. Jimmy Allen (Rancho Buena Vista HS/Cal Ploy SLO) sacrificed him second. The Rattlers were not able to score in the inning. Robert Vickers walked with two out in the fifth inning. The Barons lead off bases runner was picked off at second by pitcher Kirk Fridrich (Kansas Wesleyan University). They had the bases loaded with two out and pitcher Kirk Fridrich was able to get out of the jam. Zach Steele (Cuesta College) doubled to start off the bottom of the sixth inning. Nigel Morton scarified him to third. Scott Phillion (Central Michigan University) grounded out shortstop scoring Zach Steele. Justin Crumply (Southwest Baptist) singled to left field with two out.
Robert Vickers walked with two out in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jeff Johnson (Cal Poly SLO) made his second appearance of the season in the eighth inning. He gave up one hit and struck out two. Catcher Brandon Lee caught the runner trying to steal second to end the inning. Jeff Johnson got his first win of the season and is 1-0. Zach Steele got a bunt singled to start off the bottom of the eighth inning. Nigel Morton reached on an error. Scott Phillion bunted the runners to second and third. Zach Steele scored on a passed ball and Nigel Morton moved to third with two out. That made the score 2-1 Rattlers. Zach Steele went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Marc Damon (Texas A&M-Corpus Christ) came in and pitched the top of the ninth inning and got all three batters out. He got his fourth save of the season. ### For more information please visit http://www.slorattlers.com or email Cherie Smith at csmith@slorattlers.com. The next home series will be July 6 against the California Wahoos. It will be a non league game.