THE RATTLERS LOSE A HEARTBREAKER Joe Etcheverry went 1-for-4 with a RBI and a walk San Luis Obispo, CA (June 23, 2010) – The Rattlers had runners on base in the bottom of the ninth and were not able to score. The Rattlers are 8-9 on the season and 2-8 in league play. Starting Pitcher Todd Simko (Cuesta College) went five innings, giving up four hits, two runs and only one earned, gave up one walk, and struck out six. It was his first start of the season. In the bottom of the first inning Nigel Morton went 1-for-2 with a RBI, a run, Nigel Morton (Southwest Baptist) singled up and three walks the middle with one out and Bobby Bucker (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) walked. Joe Etcheverry (Northern Illinois University) singled to right field scoring Nigel Morton. Daniel Howell (Santa Barbara City College) singled to right field scoring Bobby Buckner. Then a double play ended any more hopes for the inning. Brandon Lee (Cornell University) singled up the middle in the bottom of the second inning with one out. Zach Steele (Cuesta College) walked and Jimmy Allen (Rancho Buena Vista HS/Cal Ply SLO) reached first on an error. Then Nigel Morton walked scoring Brandon Lee. The Rattlers were not able to score another run in the inning. Daniel Howell walked to start off the third inning. Then Matt Anderson (Cuesta College) singled to right field, putting runners at first and second. Another double play ended the Rattlers hopes for a run. The Blues scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning with two outs and there was one error. In the top of the fifth inning, the Blues got the lead off runner on. They tried to bunt the runner over, but Rattlers pitcher Todd Simko was able to field the bunt and throw the runner out at second. Then the runner at first was picked off by the pitcher. Then next batter tried to turn a single into a double, but Matt Anderson was able to throw the runner out from left field.
Scott Phillion (Central Michigan University) singled down the left field line with two out in the fifth inning. Jimmy Allen singled with one out and moved to second with a groundout. The SLO Blues scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning. Pitcher Michael Nealebeck (Cuesta College) pitched two innings, gave up two hits, two earned runs, and struck out one. He got the loss. Brandon Lee caught a runner trying to steal second base for the first out of the eighth inning. Stefan Olson (Columbia College) pitched the last two innings giving up one hit, three walks, and struck out five. Zach Steele singled with two out in the bottom of the eighth inning. Nigel Morton walked to start off the bottom of the ninth inning. Bobby Buckner then sacrificed Nigel Morton to second. Then Joe Etcheverry walked. Davey Schultz (Cuesta College) came in to pinch run for Joe Etcheverry. Then there were some base running mistakes. The Rattlers were not able to score in the bottom of the ninth. The series will continue tomorrow Thursday, June 24 at 6:05 p.m. ### For more information please visit http://www.slorattlers.com or email Cherie Smith at csmith@slorattlers.com. The next home series will be July 3-5 against the MLB Academy Barons. It will be a league series.