Rattlers can't hold early lead in Cedar Rapids
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - The
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had a 4-0 lead over the Cedar Rapids Kernels Wednesday
night at Perfect Game Field. But,
the Kernels rallied for four runs in the sixth and two more in the eighth to top
the Rattlers 6-4. Ricky Alvarez
singled in the tying run in the sixth and the go-ahead run in the eight as walks
and errors by the Rattlers allowed the Kernels to mount their comeback.
TJ Mittelstaedt gave the Timber
Rattlers (4-3) a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning.
Wisconsin broke out with three runs in the top of the fourth inning.
Jason Rogers started the frame with a single and a stolen base.
A wild pitch on a walk to Mike Walker put runners at the corners.
Greg Hopkins singled to score Rogers.
Later in the inning Cameron Garfield grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to
score Walker from third base. Mittelstaedt
was next and he drove a home run to rightcenter for a solo homer and a 4-0 lead.
Rattlers starting pitcher Matt Miller kept the Kernels (3-4) off the board
through five, but ran into trouble with one out and the bases empty in the
bottom of the sixth. A hit batsman
and a pair of walks loaded the bases for Cedar Rapids.
David Harris, who just joined the Kernels today, lined a double to
rightcenter to clear the bases and knock Miller out of the game.
Alvarez greeted Wisconsin reliever Stosh Wawrzasek with an RBI single to tie the
game 4-4.
In bottom of the eighth inning, the Rattlers defense buckled.
Wawrazasek retired the first batter.
Ryan Jones was next and he sent a grounder to short.
The throw was off, but the tag was applied by Cody Hawn.
However, the ball popped free to allow Jones to reach.
Wawrazasek shattered the bat of Harris on the next at bat, but the ball
dropped into shallow leftcenter just out of the reach of a pair of Rattlers
fielders to put runners at first and second with one out.
Eric Marzec came into the game to face Alvarez, but the result was similar to
the sixth inning. Alvarez welcomed
Marzec to the game with a single to right to drive in the go ahead run.
The throw went to third and was wild for another error.
A passed ball allowed the final run of the inning to score and give Cedar
Rapids a 6-4 lead.
Kevin Johnson came out of the Kernels bullpen and tossed a 1-2-3 top of the
ninth to nail down the save.
The final game of Wisconsin's brief four game road trip is Thursday night
against the Kernels. Jimmy Nelson
(0-0, 1.50) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers.
Cedar Rapids sends Justin La Tempa (0-0, 13.50) to the hill.
Game time is 6:35pm. Tune in
to AM1280 WNAM or www.timberrattlers.com
to hear the broadcast starting with the Miller Lite Pregame show at 6:15pm.
The Timber Rattlers return home
on Friday night to start a three game series against the Peoria Chiefs.
Game time on Friday at Time Warner Cable Field is 6:35pm. Tickets are
available for all six games of the homestand between April 15 and April 20.
Call the Timber Rattlers box office at 800-WI-TIMBER or (920) 733-4152 during
regular business hours.
R H
E
WI 010 300 000 - 4 6
3
CR 000 004 02x - 6
7 1
Click
here for a complete boxscore of Wednesday's game
HOME RUN:
WI:
TJ Mittelstaedt (1st, 0 on in 4th inning, off Caleb
Graham)
WP:
Donn Roach (3-0)
LP: Stosh Wawrzasek (0-1)
SV: Kevin Johnson (1)
TIME: 2:49
ATTN: 932