Rattlers Edge Kernels 2-1
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers got a two-run home run from Darrien Miller, an impressive Midwest League debut from Israel Puello, and four innings of scoreless relief from three relievers for a 2-1 win over the Cedar Rapids Kernels Thursday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers got a two-run home run from Darrien Miller, an impressive Midwest League debut from Israel Puello, and four innings of scoreless relief from three relievers for a 2-1 win over the Cedar Rapids Kernels Thursday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.
Click here for the boxscore of this game
Miller gave Wisconsin (41-30 overall, 5-1 second half) the lead with a two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning.
.@darrienmillerr leaves the park with a 2-Run Homer to put the Rattlers up 2 💣 #TRatNation pic.twitter.com/vqvJtUhrMU
— Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (@TimberRattlers) July 1, 2022
The Kernels (45-27, 2-4) cut Wisconsin’s lead in half when Wander Javier hit a home run on the first pitch of the top of the fifth inning.
The home run by Javier was the only run allowed by Puello, who was making his Timber Rattler debut on Thursday. Puello allowed three hits, walked one, and struck out seven over five innings before turning the game over to the Wisconsin bullpen.
Christian Tripp was up first. He allowed two hits and a walk over two innings. Tripp had runners at first and second with one out in the top of the seventh but escaped the jam by getting Kyler Fedko to ground into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.
James Meeker was next. He pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning with one strikeout.
Cam Robinson, the Minor League Baseball leader in saves, took over in the top of the ninth. Robinson, who needed ten pitches to close out the Wednesday’s game against Cedar Rapids, only needed nine pitches for a perfect top of the ninth on Thursday to finish the game and pick up his nineteenth save of the season.
Definitely running out of captions for this man... @Ajab_Cameron #TRatNation
— Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (@TimberRattlers) July 1, 2022
'Saves’ are presented by East Wisconsin Savings Bank “ Teaching Kids to save is such a game-changer!” https://t.co/M0CWOJ3BxZ pic.twitter.com/h5AqWJFeSE
Robinson is now tied for the second-most saves in a season by a Wisconsin pitcher. He is tied with John Thompson (1995) and Greg Holle (2011). The Timber Rattlers record holder is Nate Griep, who had 23 saves in 2016.
The Timber Rattlers have won seven of their last eight games.
Game four of the series is Friday night. Antoine Kelly (2-3, 3.27) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. The Kernels have not named a starter for Friday at this time. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40pm.
Pencil-thin mustaches are not required to enjoy Margaritaville Night on Friday. Just don’t step on a pop top and cruise on back home. The Parrot Porch Ticket Special is available at this link, and the Timber Rattlers are so laid back about this that you won’t need a promo code to order a ticket to the Home Run Porch and Party Deck for a Tropical Food Buffet, two drinks, and a Timber Rattlers-themed visor for $43. Plus, The Moonlighters will perform music for the night before and after the game.
Fans of legal drinking age may purchase Arty’s Supper Club Cocktails for half-price as part of a Supper Club Friday from Arty’s and 101.1 WIXX. Johnson Financial Group presents postgame fireworks, and after the fireworks, children twelve and under may run the bases courtesy of Menasha Corporation.
If you can’t make it out to the ballpark, the radio broadcast on AM1280, WNAM and internet audio is set to start with the pregame show at 6:20pm. The game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.tv.