Rattlers Take Home Opener 2-0 from Cedar Rapids

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers managed one hit in their home opener on Saturday, but it was enough to defeat the Cedar Rapids Kernels 2-0 at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.
The starting pitchers for both teams were sharp. Kernels starter Cole Sands, who was making his professional debut, retired the first thirteen Rattlers he faced in the game. Connor McVey was hit by a pitch with one out in the fifth. The only other Wisconsin baserunner against Sands was LG Castillo, who drew a two-out walk in the fifth. Sands didn't allow a hit and struck out eight over five innings.

Max Lazar was the Wisconsin starter and he gave up a pair of singles in the first inning, but he kept the Kernels off the scoreboard in that inning and for his entire outing. At one point, Lazar retired fourteen Cedar Rapids hitters in a row. He left with eight strikeouts after six innings. The strikeout total set a new single-game, professional high for Lazar.

Wisconsin (2-1) got their first hit of the game when Antonio Piñero singled to start the bottom of the sixth inning against Cedar Rapids reliever Tyler Palm. Pablo Abreu was next and he reached on a walk. David Fry was up with both runners on with one out and his hot shot to third deflected off the glove of Andrew Bechtold down the line in left. The error allowed both runners to score and the Rattlers to take a 2-0 lead.

Reese Olson took over on the mound for Lazar. He worked a scoreless seventh inning and retired the first two batters he faced in the eighth. However, he had to leave the game after Michael Davis hit a line drive off Olson's right arm for a single.

Michael Mediavilla took over for Olson and retired all four batters he faced to close out the game for the home team,.

The Kernels (1-2) had four hits in the game, including two for Trey Cabbage.

Saturday's game was the 25^th home opener in Timber Rattlers history. Wisconsin is now 14-11 in their home openers since the team moved from Goodland Field to Fox Cities Stadium and changed their name from the Appleton Foxes to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

The final game of the brief, two-game homestand with the Kernels is Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm. Aaron Ashby, the fourth round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2018 draft, is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Josh Winder is set to start for Cedar Rapids. Game time is 1:05pm.

Fans may play catch on-field courtesy of Rasmussen College starting at noon. We are trying something new with our All-Fan first pitch. This event will take place from 11:30am to 12:30pm and you must be in line by noon to guarantee yourself a first pitch before the game. Timber Rattlers players and coaches will wear their 2019 Brewers-themed jerseys for this game as part of Brewers Sunday with Rasmussen College and STAR 98.5. Players will be available for a postgame autograph session sponsored by Tundraland.
If you can't make it out to the ballpark, there are several ways to follow the Timber Rattlers. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM and the TuneIn Radio app starting with the Papa John's Pizza Pregame Show at 12:45pm. MiLB.tv subscribers can watch the game over the internet.