Isola’s Tenth-Inning Homer Beats Wisconsin

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Alex Isola had three hits and three RBI on Tuesday night for the Cedar Rapids Kernels and the final hit was the one to beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Perfect Game Field. Isola hit a two-run homer in the tenth inning for a walkoff, 4-2 win for the Kernels.

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Cedar Rapids (50-41) took the lead with a run in the bottom of the third inning as they strung together three straight singles with one out. Alex Isola had the third single in the sequence to drive in the run for a 1-0 lead. The Kernels would load the bases with two outs but Wisconsin starter Joey Matulovich got the final out on a popup.

Wisconsin (43-47) went in front in the top of the fourth as they loaded the bases with one out. Felix Valerio, who was making his Timber Rattlers debut after a promotion from Carolina earlier in the day, drew a walk to force in the tying run. Carlos Rodríguez was next and he singled to right to knock in the go-ahead run.

Cedar Rapids loaded the bases again in the bottom of the fourth inning with a single and two walks. Matt Wallner had a weak grounder to first to score the tying run.

The game remained tied through regulation. Wisconsin was held without a hit after the RBI single by Rodríguez in the fourth inning. They had two base runners after the fourth – Je’Von Ward walked with one out in the eighth and Valerio walked with two outs in the ninth. The Kernels had three hits from the fifth through the ninth but didn’t threaten to take the lead in regulation.

The Timber Rattlers started the top of the tenth with Rodríguez at second base. However, he was left stranded at third base as Breckin Williams worked a scoreless inning to set it up for the Kernels in the bottom of the tenth.

Isola led off the inning with Wallner at second base against Wisconsin reliever Harold Chirino, who had worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth with a pair of strikeouts. Chirino got ahead of Isola 1-2 before Isola fouled off two pitches. The sixth pitch of the at bat was lined to deep left and cleared the wall for a walk-off homer.

The Timber Rattlers are now 1-6 in games decided in extra innings this season.

Cedar Rapids will maintain their grip on the number two playoff spot in the High-A Central League with Tuesday’s win. The Rattlers have fallen 6-1/2 games behind the Kernels in that race with several Eastern Division teams between the two Western Division rivals.

Game two of the series is Wednesday night at Perfect Game Field. Victor Castañeda (3-6, 4.30) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Louie Varland (3-0, 1.69) is set to start for the Kernels. Game time is 6:35pm with the radio broadcast starting at 6:15pm on AM1280 and internet audio. The game is also available on MiLB.tv.