Rattlers Homestand Ends with a Shutout Loss to Cedar Rapids

GRAND CHUTE, WI - Friday night's game started off on the wrong foot for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and they could not get back into step as they were beaten by the Cedar Rapids Kernels 4-0 in the final game of a six-game homestand at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

The Kernels (70-53 overall, 31-22 second half) took advantage of some sloppy fielding by the Rattlers to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Ethan Small. Spencer Steer started the game with a grounder to David Fry at third base, but the throw to first was wild for an error to allow Steer to reach base. Wander Javier kept the inning going with a bloop single to center with one out. It was the first of four hits for Javier in the game. Yunior Severino was next and he lined a two-run double to center and took third on another error. Tyler Webb capped the inning with a two-out RBI single and Cedar Rapids was up 3-0.
Small, the #1 pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2019 draft, settled in after that tough first inning. He worked four innings on the evening and struck out eight without walking a batter. Only one of the three runs he allowed was earned. But, the three-run first inning set him up for the loss.

Wisconsin (59-63, 28-25) had issues against Kernels starting pitcher Matt Canterino, who was the 2^nd round pick of the Minnesota Twins in the 2019 draft. Canterino allowed one hit - a two-out triple to Yeison Coca in the third inning, walked none, and struck out five over five innings to put himself in position for his first professional victory.

Cedar Rapids, a team already in the playoffs as the first half Western Division Wild Card, added to their lead in the top of the fifth inning against reliever Joey Matulovich. Steer singled and Gilberto Celestino walked. Javier was next and he singled to center for his third hit of the game and to knock home Steer for a 4-0 lead.

Reese Olson took over on the mound for the Rattlers in the top of the sixth inning and he tossed four scoreless innings with a walk and four strikeouts.

Wisconsin put two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh inning against Kernels reliever JR Perez. Fry doubled off the base of the wall in right with one out. The double was the 41^st of the season for Fry. Brent Díaz drew a two-out walk, but Perez got a strikeout to end the threat.

Erik Cha closed out the game for the Kernels with a perfect eighth and a perfect ninth inning for his second save in two appearances for the Kernels.
In the second half Western Division Playoff race, the Rattlers received some good news and some bad news. The first place Kane County Cougars rallied to defeat the Peoria Chiefs 4-3 at home. The wild-card leading Clinton LumberKings lost 4-3 to the Burlington Bees at home. Those results mean that the Timber Rattlers remain three games behind Clinton in the Wild Card race, but they fall to seven games behind Kane County in the division race. There are seventeen games left in the season.
The Timber Rattlers begin a four-game road trip to Peoria, Illinois on Saturday night. Freisis Adames (2-2, 4.11) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. The Chiefs have named Logan Gragg (0-2, 4.12) as their starter. Game time at Dozer Park is 6:35pm. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM and the TuneIn Radio app starting with the Papa John's Pizza Pregame Show at 6:15pm. MiLB.tv subscribers can watch the game over the internet.