Rattlers fight back, but come up short against Kernels
July 22, 2015 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - The Cedar Rapids Kernels scored five times in the bottom of the third inning to put the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in an early hole on Wednesday afternoon at Perfect Game Field. Wisconsin clawed their way back to within a run and had a chance to tie the game in the ninth, but the Kernels held on for a 5-4 victory.
Cedar Rapids (56-41 overall, 15-12 second half) loaded the bases against starter David Burkhalter on an infield single, a bunt single, and a walk with no outs in the bottom of the third. Then, Edgar Corcino lined a triple to right-center and all three runners scored for a 3-0 lead. One out later, Tyler Kuresa singled through the drawn-in infield to knock in Corcino. Later in the inning, Alex Real knocked in Kuresa with a ground out and the Kernels were up 5-0.
Luis Aviles got the Timber Rattlers (31-65, 8-18) on the board with a two-out solo home run in the top of the fifth.
Wisconsin crept closer in the sixth with a rally against Kernels starting pitcher Ethan Mildren . Blake Allemand drew a leadoff walk and Alan Sharkey followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Carlos Leal singled to right. That scored Allemand and sent Sharkey around to third base. Elvis Rubio hit a slow roller for a 6-3 putout that scored Sharkey and moved Leal to second base. Tucker Neuhaus drew a walk and that knocked Mildren out of the game.
Yorman Landa took over and got the final two outs of the sixth inning and would pitch a scoreless seventh and a scoreless eighth to keep the 5-3 lead intact for the Kernels.
Wisconsin's bullpen tossed 4-2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Burkhalter. Tyler Linehan (1.2IP), Gian Rizzo (1IP), and Cody Ponce (2IP) allowed one hit, walked none, and struck out three to give the offense a chance to pull off a comeback. That comeback almost happened.
Cam Booser took over for Landa in the top of the ninth and would walk Gregory Munoz and Allemand with one out. Then, Booser threw two wild pitches with Sharkey at the plate. The second pitch to the screen allowed Munoz to score and Allemand to take third as the tying run. But, Booser regrouped and got a popup and a strikeout to end the game.
Allemand went 1-for 2, but was on base four times on Wednesday. He walked twice, singled, and was hit by a pitch. Leal had a two-hit game for Wisconsin, his 21st multi-hit game of the season. However, it wasn't enough and Cedar Rapids is now 13-1 in fourteen games against the Timber Rattlers this season.
Game three of the series is Thursday night at Perfect Game Field. Eric Hanhold (0-1, 9.00) will get the start for the Timber Rattlers. Zach Tillery (5-4, 2.67) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Kernels. Game time is 6:35pm.
The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. The broadcast may also be heard on Tune In Radio and IHeartRadio.
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