Rattlers Beat Kernels 9-7 For 4th Straight Win
Published on May 11, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers rode their biggest inning since 2008 to a 9-7 win over the Cedar Rapids Kernels Wednesday night at Time Warner Cable Field. Chris Dennis hit a grand slam in a 7-run fifth inning to erase a 3-0 Kernels lead. Closer Greg Holle came on in the ninth to secure the win and get the Rattlers back to .500 for the first time since April 17.
Rattlers starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson and Kernels starter Justin La Tempa kept the game scoreless through the first four inning.
Cedar Rapids (20-13) broke through in the top of the fifth inning. Ricky Alvarez drew a leadoff walk. Wes Hatton drove in Alvarez with a double, but he was out at third when he tried to take the extra base on the throw home. Then, Dan Eichelberger drew a walk and stole second. A two-out single by Travis Witherspoon drove Eichelberger home. An RBI double by David Harris sent Eichelberger home for a 3-0 lead.
The Rattlers (15-15) took advantage of some defensive lapses by the Kernels to mount a rally in the bottom of the fifth. Yadiel Rivera reached with one out when his popup in front of the mound was dropped for an error. Nick Shaw was hit by an 0-2 pitch by La Tempa and Greg Hopkins fly ball to right-center was lost in the lights and dropped in for a hit to load the bases. Cody Hawn drew a walk to force in a run. That brought Dennis to the plate.
The Rattlers left fielder jumped on the first pitch from La Tempa and sent a towering fly ball into the teeth of a brisk wind blowing in from right field. Dennis got just enough on the ball to clear the wall in right for a grand slam and a 5-3 lead.
The slam was the first for Wisconsin since Scooter Gennett hit one at Quad Cities exactly one year ago - May 11, 2010.
Wisconsin wasn't done in the inning. Beau Brooks relieved La Tempa after the blast by Dennis and he walked Mike Walker. Franklin Romero extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a bunt single and Walker took third on a throwing error. Later in the inning, Romero stole second and Walker scored when the throw to second was wild. Tyler Roberts capped the scoring in the inning with an RBI single to drive Romero home for a 7-3 lead.
Nelson pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning and turned the game over to the Rattlers bullpen. Nelson allowed three runs on four hits, three walks, and three strikeouts to qualify for the win, his first in the Midwest League. But, there was the small matter of getting to the final out of the game.
Walker, who had three hits in the game, padded the Rattlers lead to 8-3 with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth.
The Kernels edged closer in the seventh on an RBI single by Eichelberger and a sacrifice fly by Jeremy Cruz. But, Shaw got one of those runs back in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single to make the score 9-5.
Eichelberger picked up another RBI with another sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth.
Holle came on to pitch the ninth and got the first out. Harris homered to left field and made the score 9-7. Holle got the second out, but consecutive singles by Brandon Decker and Carlos Ramirez put runners at the corners with the go ahead run at the plate. But, Holle ended the game with a strikeout of Alvarez to convert his seventh save of the season.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Zach Braddock is on a rehab assignment and scheduled to make the start for the Timber Rattlers on Thursday night. Austin Ross (3-1, 1.43) will come on in relief for the Rattlers. The Kernels have Brian Diemer (4-1, 2.12) as their scheduled starting pitcher. Game time is 6:35pm.
Thursday is a Slugger's Sports Bar Thirsty Thursday presented by 101.1, WIXX featuring 22 ounce Pepsi productsucts and 16 ounce Miller products are available for $2. Redeem a Thursday night game ticket at Slugger's, located inside Super Bowl on Northland Avenue, for a chance to win great prizes from Miller Lite.
Plus, the first 1,000 fans into the ballpark will receive a pair of fingerless gloves from Auto-Wares Bumper to Bumper.
Also, break out your costume for Halloween in May. There will be prizes for costumes and trick or treating for the kids.
If you can't make it out to the game, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm.
Midwest League Stories from May 11, 2011
- Zach Braddock to Make Rehab Start with Timber Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Rattlers Beat Kernels 9-7 For 4th Straight Win - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Close Plays Cost Kings in Quad Cities - Clinton LumberKings
- Bandits Comeback for 7-6 Win - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Loons Comeback to Beat Lansing, 4-3 - Great Lakes Loons
- Burlington Tops Peoria With Five-Run Ninth - Peoria Chiefs
- Loons edge Lugnuts late to retake 1st, 4-3 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Cougars Pound Beloit in Game 2 - Kane County Cougars
- Lutz, Tuttle Lead Dragons over Captains - Dayton Dragons
- Dragons Find Some Lutz, Beat Captains 3-1 - Lake County Captains
- Jack Murphy Joins Lansing as Joe Bowen Placed on TIA - Lansing Lugnuts
- Hot Rods Homestand Notes - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Hot Rods Turn Tables, Win 6-3 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- 'Caps Quiet in 6-1 Loss - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Breakfast Baseball with a Side of Winning - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Red Wings Legends Series Approaching - Great Lakes Loons
- Dragons Thursday Game to be Televised - Dayton Dragons
- Dragons Gameday for Wednesday, May 11 - Dayton Dragons
- Captains Begin Six-Game Home Stand on Friday - Lake County Captains
- Wisconsin scores three late in 4-1 win over Kernels - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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.
