Rattlers win, by George
GRAND CHUTE, WI - The
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers spoiled the home opener of the Cedar Rapids Kernels
with a 3-1 victory on Monday night at Perfect Game Field.
Rattlers shortstop Carlos George led the way with a pair of RBI and about
twice that many fine defensive plays.
Travis Witherspoon gave
the Kernels (2-3) a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Rattlers starting pitcher Tyler Thornburg had struck out the first two
batters he faced. But, he grooved a
2-0 pitch to the Kernels centerfielder. Witherspoon
drove the ball over the 400' sign in center for his second homer of the season
and a 1-0 Cedar Rapids lead.
Both teams had great chances to score in the third inning.
Kernels starter Brian Diemer walked the first three Rattlers in the top
of the frame. But, he got out of the
inning with no runs scoring...barely. Jason
Rogers appeared to have been hit by a pitch with one out to force in a run.
However, the plate umpire ruled that Rogers did not attempt to get out of
the way. Rogers was retired on a
popup and the third out of the inning was recorded a few pitches later.
Cedar Rapids had runners at second and third with one out against Thornburg in
the bottom of the third. Carlos
Ramirez lined a 2-0 that was ticketed for leftcenter.
But, George made a leaping grab and the shortstop prevented the Kernels
from adding onto their lead. Thornburg
retired the next batter to keep Wisconsin within a run.
George doubled with two outs in the fourth inning to tie the game.
Wisconsin (3-2) loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth inning and cashed in
to take the lead. Cameron Garfield
was hit by a pitch to force in a run.
Dan Britt relieved Thornburg to start the bottom of the fourth after the
Wisconsin starter had reached his pitch limit.
Britt tossed four scoreless innings and allowed one hit to position the
Rattlers for the lead.
George struck again with an RBI single in the top of the eighth inning to give
the Rattlers a 3-1 cushion.
Cedar Rapids loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Eric Marzec, who got the first two outs of the inning, walked the next
two. Then, Brian Garman hit a
batter. Garman got out of the jam
with - what else - a grounder to George at short.
Garman worked a perfect ninth to nail down the win and his second save of
the season.
Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or www.timberrattlers.com
starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm.
R H
E
WI 000 110 010 - 3 8
0
CR 100 000 000 - 1 4
2
Click
here for a boxscore of Monday's game
HOME RUN:
CR:
Travis Witherspoon (2nd, 0 on in 1st inning off Tyler
Thornburg, 2 out)
WP: Dan Britt (1-0)
LP: Brian Diemer (0-1)
SV: Brian Garman (2)
TIME: 2:48
ATTN: 1,753