Cedar Rapids Beats Wisconsin 5-3

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers outhit the Cedar Rapids Kernels 12-9 on Saturday night at Perfect Game Field. However, the Kernels hitters were able to bunch their hits together and their pitchers were able to deny the Rattlers scoring chances with thirteen strikeouts. The Kernels defeated Wisconsin 5-3 in the game.

The Timber Rattlers (31-41 overall, 0-3 second half) appeared to be off to a very promising start. Darren Seferina, Rob Henry, and Trever Morrison were the first three hitters of the game and all singled off Kernels starting pitcher Jordan Balazovic to load the bases. Balazovic struck out the next two batters, the first two of his nine in the game, and got the final out on a line drive to short and the Rattlers did not score.

Cedar Rapids (35-37, 3-0) also had what appeared to be a good start to their first inning. Wisconsin starting pitcher Nelson Hernández dropped a flip from KJ Harrison while covering first to allow Kernels lead-off batter Jacob Pearson to reach base. Then, Hernández was called for a balk to put Pearson on second with no outs, but the Wisconsin right-hander retired the next three Kernels to keep the game scoreless.

The Kernels took the lead in the bottom of the third with four straight hits to open the inning. Robert Molina and Jordan Gore started the inning with singles. Jacob Pearson doubled to the corner in left to drive in Molina. Then, Jean Carlos Arias launched a three-run home run to right and the Kernels were up 4-0.

Harrison started the Wisconsin fourth inning with a double. Jay Feliciano drove in Harrison with a one-out double and the Rattlers were on the scoreboard.

Wisconsin pulled to within a run by scoring twice in the top of the fifth. Seferina started the frame with a double. Henry singled him home. Later in the inning with runners on the corners, Kenny Corey reached on a fielder's choice to score Henry from third.

Cedar Rapids looked to blow the game open against Hernández in the bottom of the fifth as they loaded the bases with no outs. But, Hernández escaped by getting a shallow pop to left and 1-2-3 double play.

Gabriel García tripled for Wisconsin with one out in the top of the sixth inning against reliever Blayne Enlow, but he was thrown out at the plate as he tried to score on a chopper off the bat of Brent Diaz to Gore, the second baseman who was playing in on the grass. The Rattlers never had a real threat to score after that opportunity.

The Kernels did get their insurance run in the bottom of the seventh. Arias tripled with two outs against reliever Michael Petersen. Then, Royce Lewis sent a weak grounder up the third base line to score Arias for a 5-3 advantage.

Enlow retired the side in order in the eighth and got the first batter he faced in the ninth, before walking Seferina to bring the tying run to the plate. Enlow would end the game - and send Wisconsin to its ninth consecutive loss - by getting a 5-4-3 double play.
The final game of the four-game series is Sunday afternoon at Perfect Game Field. Carlos Herrera (1-4, 4.50) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Brusdar Graterol (2-2, 2.48) is set to start for the Kernels. Game time is 2:05pm. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Pregame Show at 1:45pm. The broadcast is also available on the Tune In and IHeart Radio apps. Subscribers to MiLB.tv can watch the game over the internet.