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Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Kernels Edge Rattlers in 11 for Second Night in a Row

August 27, 2002 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


The Cedar Rapids Kernels got a clutch home run from Casey Kotchman to send Tuesday night's game at Fox Cities Stadium to extra innings. The Kernels nursed two runs across the plate in the eleventh for a win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Monday night in Cedar Rapids, the Kernels beat the Timber Rattlers 2-1 in eleven innings.

Cedar Rapids (40-24 second half, 77-56 overall) jumped in front 1-0 on a two out RBI single by Mike Eylward in the top of the first.

Wisconsin (21-43, 51-82) evened things up with a sacrifice fly by Cipriano Garcia in the bottom of the second.

The Kernels took advantage of a Rattler defensive lapse in the fifth to take a 2-1. Justin Turner struck out, but a wild pitch allowed Turner to take off for first. The throw to first was mishandled and Turner moved to second. A sacrifice bunt moved Turner to third and Nick Kimpton drove in the run with a single.

Nick Kimpton placed a suicide squeeze bunt to drive in a run in the top of the seventh and came in on an RBI single by Tommy Murphy later in the inning to put the Kernels up 4-1.

The Rattlers fought all the way back in their half of the seventh. Mark O'Sullivan came on to relieve Woods and walked the lead off batter. It got worse from there from the Kernel perspective. Luis Oliveros doubled and Luis Cordova blooped in an RBI single to score the first run of the inning. John Cole followed by dribbling an RBI single through the right side of the infield. Dan Floyd dropped a safety squeeze bunt and Cordova scored the tying run as Floyd avoided the tag at first to reach.

A fielder's choice and a walk loaded the bases. Harvey Monte drew another walk to force in the go ahead run. Garcia got two big insurance runs across the plate with a two run single.

But, with the Timber Rattlers one out from a win, Casey Kotchman drilled a three run homer in the top of the ninth to tie the game 7-7.

Cedar Rapids scored twice in the top of the eleventh. Nick Gourneault started the inning with a double and the Kernels eventually loaded the bases.. Eylward drove in the go ahead run by drawing a bases loaded walk. Kotchman followed with a slow ground out the pushed another run across for a 9-7 lead.

Joel Peralta pitched a 1-2-3 eleventh for his twentieth save of the season.

The Rattlers and Kernels play game two of the series Wednesday night at Fox Cities Stadium. Ryan Ketchner (3-5, 2.49ERA) will start for Wisconsin. Johan Santana (13-8, 4.34ERA) is the scheduled starter for Cedar Rapids. Game time is 7:05pm.

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