Rattlers rally, then fade in loss to Kernels
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - The
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers spotted the Cedar Rapids Kernels a 4-0 lead in the
first two innings on Thursday night at Perfect Game Field.
Wisconsin rallied to tie the game 4-4 in the sixth inning.
But, Cedar Rapids took advantage of two crucial errors in the bottom of
the sixth inning to go back in front. The
Kernels pulled away with a big seventh inning and beat Wisconsin 11-4.
Rattlers starting pitcher Jimmy
Nelson struggled in the bottom of the first inning. Drew
Heid reached to start the inning when he beat out a dribbler up the third base
line. Wes Hatton tripled to
right-center to send Heid home. Travis
Witherspoon followed with an RBI double for a 2-0 lead.
Nelson would pick Witherspoon off second base for the first out of the inning.
David Harris drew a walk. After
Nelson got a strikeout for the second out of the inning, Harris would take
second on a wild pitch and third on an infield single by Ricky Alvarez.
Harris would score on a passed ball to put the Kernels up 3-0.
Nelson walked the next two batters to load the bases and exited the game.
Charly Bashara came in and got the final out of the first inning.
Bashara got the first two outs of the second inning, but gave up a solo homer to
Witherspoon and Wisconsin was down 4-0.
The Rattlers would rally for a pair of runs in the third.
Cody Hawn broke a personal 0-for-13 streak with a two-run single to cut
the Kernels lead in half.
A wild pitch in the top of the fifth inning allowed Mike Walker to score for
Wisconsin and make the deficit a single run.
Carlos George drove in the tying run with a bloop single to right field in the
top of the sixth inning. Wisconsin
put runners on first and second with no outs in the inning, but could not take
the lead.
The Kernels answered back in the bottom of the sixth inning with help from the
Wisconsin defense. Mitch Blackburn
reached on an error to start the inning. A
single to left by Jesus Campos put runners at first and second with no outs.
That set up an interesting play for the Rattlers that almost worked.
Almost.
Heid was at the plate in a sacrifice bunt situation.
Hopkins, playing third for Wisconsin, set up about 20 feet in on the
grass. Hopkins charged in on each
pitch of the at bat to entice Blackburn to attempt a steal of third.
Blackburn took the bait on a 1-1 pitch and Wisconsin sprung the trap.
George, the shortstop, sprinted to third and beat Blackburn easily to the bag.
The throw from catcher Tyler Roberts was on target.
George dropped the tag on Blackburn for the apparent out, but he dropped
the ball and Blackburn was safe.
Heid lined the next pitch for a double to left that scored two runs and the
Rattlers were down 6-4.
Cedar Rapids poured it on in the seventh with five runs.
The big hit in the inning was a two-run single by Wes Hatton.
Both teams are 4-4 on the season after splitting the four game series in Cedar
Rapids
The Timber Rattlers open a six-game homestand at Time Warner Cable Field on
Friday night against the Peoria Chiefs. Del
Howell is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers.
The Midwest League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs will counter with Cam
Greathouse. Game time is 6:35pm.
Friday night is a North Shore Bank/95.9 KISS-FM Family Night.
Children 12 and under eat free and after the game Fazoli's presents
Kids Run the Bases for children 14 and under. Additionally, the first 1,000 fans
age 21 and older will receive a Timber Rattlers seat cushion courtesy of Miller
Lite.
If you can't make it to the game,
you may tune in to the game broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or on www.timberrattlers.com
starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm.
WI 002 011 000 - 4 9 4
CR 310 002 50x - 11 15 2
Click here for a complete boxscore of Thursday's game
HOME RUN:
CR:
Travis Witherspoon (3rd, 0 on in 2nd inning, off Charly Bashara, 2 out)
WP: Daniel Tillman (1-0)
LP: Charly Bashara (0-1)
TIME: 3:32
ATTN: 603