Helman Homers in Thursday Defeat
GRAND CHUTE, Wis. – Michael Helman’s ninth-inning home run was the only offense for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in a 4-1 loss Thursday evening to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. At the midpoint of this six-game series, Cedar Rapids (42-33) holds a 2-1
GRAND CHUTE, Wis. – Michael Helman’s ninth-inning home run was the only offense for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in a 4-1 loss Thursday evening to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. At the midpoint of this six-game series, Cedar Rapids (42-33) holds a 2-1 lead over Wisconsin (36-38).
The Timber Rattlers tallied an unearned run within the fifth for a 1-0 advantage. An errant throw on a potential inning-ending double play allowed Antonio Piñero to come home.
Wisconsin extended its lead to 4-0 during the eighth inning. Joe Gray Jr. and Je’Von Ward produced RBI singles, and LG Castillo drove in an additional run via force out.
Helman broke up the shutout during the final frame. He led off the ninth by blasting a solo shot to left-center field. The homer for Helman was his career-high 10th round-tripper this season.
Joey Matulovich (1-0) tossed five scoreless innings to earn the win during his High-A debut. Nash Walters followed with two shutout frames for his fourth hold. Harold Chirino yielded just one run over his two innings of work within his fourth save.
Tyler Watson (2-1) surrendered one unearned run over five innings pitched and was saddled with his first loss of the 2021 season.
Friday’s first pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m., and Kernels right-hander Ben Gross (4-0, 2.41) will square off with Timber Rattlers right-hander Victor Castañeda (3-4, 3.54). Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will call the action from Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium on www.kernels.com.
Cedar Rapids hosts the Quad Cities River Bandits for its next homestand from August 3 through August 8. Fans can purchase tickets for all Cedar Rapids Kernels home games by visiting www.kernels.com, going to the Kernels Ticket Office, or calling (319) 896-7560. The Kernels Ticket Office is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. On Sundays when the Kernels have a home game, the Kernels Ticket Office will open at 11:00 a.m.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the High-A Central affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.