Sweeney Single Stops Wisconsin

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA -- Matt Sweeney's bases loaded RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning snapped a 3-3 tie and gave the Cedar Rapids Kernels a 4-3 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Monday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Three Cedar Rapids pitchers combined to strikeout seventeen Rattler batters in the game. A two-out bloop single to center in the bottom of the second inning by Marco Albano gave the Kernels (4-3) a 1-0 lead. The rally started with a two out walk issued to Ryan Mount by Rattler starting pitcher Anthony Varvaro. Mount went to second on a wild pitch and score on the single by Albano. The Kernels went up 2-0 in the bottom of the third when PJ Phillips manufactured a run with a little help from Varvaro. Phillips was hit by a 1-2 pitch from Varvaro. Then, Phillips stole second. Varvaro threw a wild pitch and Phillips raced home from second to score the run. The Rattlers (1-5) tied the game in the top of the fourth inning. Greg Halman was at second and Alex Liddi was at first with two outs. The duo pulled a double steal and Kernel catcher Hank Conger's throw to third trickled into left field allowing Halman scored. Juan Beltran singled to right on the next pitch to drive in Liddi to tie the score. Varvaro gave up a lead off single in the bottom of the sixth inning to Chris Pettit and turned things over to reliever Rollie Gibson. Pettit stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on two out single by Conger to put the Kernels back in front. Varvaro pitched 5+ innings, allowed three runs on three hits, and struck out six, but was not involved in the decision. Wisconsin rallied to tie the game in the top of the seventh. Gavin Dickey laced a double into the left field corner and Leury Bonilla raced all the way home from first base with the tying run. In the bottom of the ninth, the Kernel lead off batter reached on a walk against Natividad Dilone. But, a sacrifice bunt attempt by Peter Bourjos failed and wound up in a force out at second. Wil Ortiz was next and he sent a slow grounder to short. Liddi, the third baseman, cut off the ball, thought about going to second base to get the lead runner, but realized he didn't have time. Then, he threw wildly to first and Bourjos moved to third and Ortiz wound up at second. The Rattlers walked Pettit to load the bases and set up a potential double play. But, Sweeney spoiled that strategy when he banged an 0-2 pitch from Dilone off the center field wall for the game winning hit. Cedar Rapids starting pitcher Jeremy Haynes struck out ten Rattlers over five innings, but allowed two runs and got a no decision. Kernel reliever Anthony Sullivan got three strikeouts in two innings. Pedro Herrera, the winning pitcher, had four K's over the final two innings. The Timber Rattlers return home to begin a brief two game homestand with the Beloit that starts Tuesday night. Oak Creek, Wisconsin native Tony Butler (0-0, 6.75) is scheduled to make his first start as a member of the Timber Rattlers. Beloit will counter with Cole Devries (0-0, 0.00). Game time at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium is 6:35pm.