Cedar Rapids sweeps Rattlers
April 15, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
FOX CITIES STADIUM -- The Cedar Rapids Kernels defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 5-3 on Saturday afternoon to complete a three game series sweep. Catcher Flint Wipke had the key hit, a two-out, two-run double in the top of the fifth inning to put the Kernels ahead to stay. Brok Butcher picked up his first professional win with 3-1/3 innings of work out of the bullpen for the Kernels. The win was the fifth straight for Cedar Rapids. The loss was Wisconsin's third in a row.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning. Kernel starting pitcher Robert Mosebach was pitching well, but a line drive off the bat of Michael Saunders caught him on his right foot. The ball dropped on the mound and Mosebach recorded the 1-3 putout.
The next batter was Eddy Hernandez and the Rattler rightfielder laced a triple into the rightfield corner. The hit extended Hernandez's hitting streak to eight games and set the Rattlers (4-6) up for their first run.
Luis Valbuena hit a line drive that first baseman Dallas Morris could not handle and Hernandez scored while Valbuena wound up at second. A pair of wild pitches by Mosebach during an at bat by Nick Prosise allowed Valbuena to come around to score and give the Rattlers a 2-0 lead. That was when Butcher replaced Mosebach. Butcher got the final out of the inning and the Rattler lead evaporated shortly thereafter.
Cedar Rapids (6-4) got to Rattler starter Jose Escalona in the top of the fifth. Ryan Leahy started the inning with a single. A double by Hainley Statia put runners at second and third with no outs. Jordan Renz was up next and sent a high fly ball to left. The ball hit the top of the wall for a double to score Leahy. Statia stopped at third after waiting at second to see if the ball would be caught.
Escalona got a break when Renz got caught off second base after a groundout to first for a double play. But, the Rattler lefty walked Travis Schlichting and Wipke doubled into the left field corner driving home two runs to put the Kernels up 3-2.
The Kernels added another run in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by Leahy.
Michael Saunders tripled to start the Rattler half of the sixth inning and scored on a ground out by Luis Valbuena. But, 4-3 was as close as the Rattlers got.
Cedar Rapids scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning on an error by shortstop Jeff Dominguez for a 5-3 lead.
Ryan Aldridge, who came on in the eighth inning, worked a 1-2-3 ninth with two strikeouts for his first save.
The Rattlers are off on Sunday for Easter. They return to the diamond on Monday night to face the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays. Jason Snyder (1-0, 4.66ERA) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Southwest Michigan will counter with Michael Wlodarczyk (0-1, 3.86). Game time is 6:35pm.
Midwest League Stories from April 15, 2006
- Swing Take Series with 2-1 Win - Peoria Chiefs
- Cougars Flirt with No-Hitter, Can't Sweep Clinton - Kane County Cougars
- Bees Blank Beloit to Win Series over Snappers - Burlington Bees
- Kernels complete sweep of Rattlers with 5-3 win - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Lugnuts Win Thriller - Lansing Lugnuts
- Fort Wayne Shocks Dayton with Five in the Eighth to win 5-4 - Dayton Dragons
- Devil Rays Blanked by Whitecaps - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Cedar Rapids sweeps Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- West Michigan moves above .500 with second shutout of week - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Pitcher Poveda Joins LumberKings - Clinton LumberKings
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