Scarpetta tosses a gem in Rattlers win

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. - Cody Scarpetta gave up one hit over six innings and struck out nine for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Wednesday night against the West Michigan Whitecaps. Wisconsin's offense pushed a run across in the first inning and that was enough for a 1-0 Timber Rattlers win.

Wisconsin (42-40 overall, 8-4 second half) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Juan Sanchez and Peter Fatse singled to start the inning and both moved up on a grounder to third. Brett Lawrie knocked in Sanchez with and RBI grounder to second.

Scarpetta was in control all night. He faced the minimum over six scoreless innings. The only hit Scarpetta allowed was a one out double to Brent Wyatt in the top of the fifth. But, Wyatt tried to stretch the hit into a triple. A strong relay throw from Lawrie to third beat Wyatt by plenty for the second out of the frame.

The righty from Rockford, Illinois only went to a three-ball count on a batter twice in the game and worked quickly and efficiently to put himself in position to pick up his first win since May 17.

West Michigan starting pitcher Luke Putkonen was almost as good as Scarpetta. Almost. He allowed three hits, walked one, and struck out five.

Efrain Nieves took over for Scarpetta in the top of the seventh. Nieves, who had allowed nine runs on eight hits and four walks over two innings in his previous outing, worked around a two out single in the seventh and a leadoff walk in the eighth. The lefty from Puerto Rico retired the side in order in the ninth to pick up the save, the first of his professional career.

The Whitecaps are 51-32 on the season and 8-5 in the second half, but the Timber Rattlers are 4-0 against the Midwest League affiliate of the Detroit Tigers in 2009.