Kernels Hold Rattlers in Check

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers dropped game one of their six-game series with the Cedar Rapids Kernels 7-2 on Tuesday night at Perfect Game Field. The Kernels offense used two homers to pull away and their bullpen was almost perfect over the final 5-2/3 innings. The Kernels scored in all four innings in which they put the lead-off batter on base.

Click here for the boxscore of this game

Kernels starting pitcher Orlando Rodríguez recorded four strikeouts and allowed no hits in the first inning, but Wisconsin (58-50 overall, 22-21 second half) scored an unearned run. Jeferson Quero struck out for what should have been the final out of the first, but a wild pitch let him take first base. Then, Ben Metzinger’s popup to short was dropped to put runners at second and third. Rodríguez threw another wild pitch and this one let Quero score to give Wisconsin the lead.

Cedar Rapids (64-45, 21-22) came back to tie the game in the bottom of the first inning when two singles and a wild pitch by Rattlers starter Justin Jarvis put runners on second and third with no outs. Jake Rucker knocked in the run for the Kernels with a sacrifice fly.

Jarvis walked Mikey Perez, the lead-off batter in the second, on four pitches. Perez stole second and scored on a one-out single by Willie Joe Garry Jr to put the Kernels up 2-1.

Rodríguez got a strikeout to start the top of the fourth inning to set a new single-game high as a pro with nine. He would not get another K. Eduardo García singled on doubled on an 0-2 pitch. Then, Ernesto Martínez singled to right to drive in García with the tying run. That would chase Rodríguez from the game. Derek Molina took over and got out of the inning with Martínez running on a pitch to Ethan Murray. Martínez was around second and halfway to third base as Murray’s popup to second was caught and turned into an easy double play.

The first two Cedar Rapids batters in the bottom of the fourth inning reached base. Then, Jeferson Morales lined a home run just over the wall in left for a 5-2 lead. Morales has hit six homers this season.

Tyler Gillies walked the lead-off batter in the bottom of the seventh. Brooks Lee, the #1 pick of the Minnesota Twins in the 2022 draft, was next. He worked the count full before hitting a 3-2 pitch deep to right for his first professional home run and a 7-2 lead.

Wisconsin’s offense was silent from the fourth inning until the ninth when Quero singled against reliever Samuel Perez to break up a streak of thirteen straight batters retired by the Kernels bullpen. Perez recovered to get the next batter to hit into a double play. He would get the final out on a fly ball to close out the game.

Game two of the series at Perfect Game Field is Wednesday night. Carlos Rodríguez (1-0, 0.90) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. The Kernels have named Travis Adams (0-2, 9.58) as their starter. Game time is 6:35pm. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM and internet audio starting at 6:15pm. The game is also available on MiLB.tv for subscribers.