Dennis Delivers in Rattlers Victory
Published on July 5, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - Chris Dennis continued his hot hitting from Sunday in Cedar Rapids. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers designated hitter had a pair of hits and an RBI before the Independence Day game at Perfect Game Field against the Cedar Rapids Kernels was suspended by rain. He came back on Monday when the game was restarted and had two hits, including a home run, and two big RBIs to lead the Rattlers to a 6-5 win over the Kernels
Wisconsin (31-47 overall, 5-5 second half) grabbed the initiative with three runs on six hits against Kernels starting pitcher Garrett Richards in the first inning. Hunter Morris drove in a pair of runs with a double. Later in the inning, Dennis drove in a run with a double for the 3-0 lead.
But, the Kernels (48-30, 5-5) rallied to take the lead before rain halted play. A solo homer by Matt Long in the third inning got Cedar Rapids on the scoreboard. In the fourth, Justin Bass tripled in a run and would score the tying run on a sacrifice fly. Long struck again with an RBI single later in the frame.
Then, Jean Segura stepped in to bat. But after he took a pitch to make the count 1-1, a downpour forced the game to be stopped.
The game restarted on Tuesday with runners on second and third for the Kernels. Rattlers reliever Efrain Nieves walked Segura to load the bases. But, Nieves got Nolan Brannon to ground into an inning ending 4-6-3 double play.
Dennis tied the game with a leadoff homer in the top of the sixth inning. The long ball was his tenth of the season.
The Rattlers went back in front with two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Morris beat out an infield single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cutter Dykstra, and took third on a balk by Skaggs. Dennis delivered Morris across the plate with a double to right-center. An error on a grounder off the bat of Austin Stockfisch later in the inning allowed Dennis to score a run to make the score 6-4 Wisconsin.
Nieves pitched 4-2/3 innings of one-hit, scoreless relief and turned the game over to closer Jon Pokorny in the bottom of the ninth. The lefty gave up a leadoff single, but struck out the next two batters. However, Long made the game interesting with an RBI single. Then, Pokorny made it interesting by walking Segura to put the winning run on base.
Pokorny struck out pinch hitter Casey Haerther to finish the game and pick up his fifth save of the season.
Wisconsin snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Kernels with the victory.
Midwest League Stories from July 5, 2010
- Bees' Streak Pillaged by Bandits - Burlington Bees
- Kernels Take Nightcap from Wisconsin, 13-5 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Kernels Drop Suspended game, 6-5 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Haerther Drives In Five to Lead Kernels Past Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Loons Sweep in Double Dip; Win Series - Great Lakes Loons
- River Bandits Bring Bats Back to Life, Knock Off Bees 5-1 - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Tempers Flare as Hawks Swept in Doubleheader - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Cook, Captains Deck Lugnuts, 3-2 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Gaynor, Sanz Brothers Fall to Dayton - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Dragons Win Second Straight - Dayton Dragons
- Dennis Delivers in Rattlers Victory - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Cody Rogers Drives Hot Rods To Win In Stellar Debut - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- TinCaps fall short, 8-7 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Cougars Rally to Pound Snappers - Kane County Cougars
- Seven Again for Gillheeney as Kings Clip Chiefs - Clinton LumberKings
- Chiefs Fall 5-2 Monday - Peoria Chiefs
- Hawks Back to Full Strength - South Bend Silver Hawks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
