Timber Rattlers Pull Away for 7-2 Win

GRAND CHUTE, WIS. - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers defeated the Cedar Rapids Kernels by a final score of 7-2 Monday at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Wisconsin notched a 2-1 edge in this four-game series and guaranteed a season series victory by securing an 8-5 advantage heading into Tuesday's finale.
Cedar Rapids (19-25, 58-56) claimed a 1-0 lead during the second inning. Verona, Wisconsin native Ben Rortvedt doubled on the first pitch and advanced to third base on a Joe Cronin groundout before scoring after a single by Trey Cabbage.

Wisconsin (20-24, 46-66) produced back-to-back sacrifice flies in the third to take a 2-1 lead. The Timber Rattlers quickly loaded the bases for Demi Orimoloye, who lifted a foul popup down the first-base line. Lewin Diaz made the catch, and Jonathan Oquendo scored. Trever Morrison reached third on the play and came home on Keston Hiura's sacrifice fly.
Rortvedt and Cabbage worked together in the top of the fourth and helped the Kernels tie the contest at 2-2. Rortvedt hit another leadoff double, and Cabbage would deliver a sacrifice fly to bring in Rortvedt and even the score.
During the fifth inning, the Timber Rattlers jumped back in front, 3-2. Morrison was hit by a pitch to start the frame. A fly out by Orimoloye allowed Morrison to get to second base, and Hiura followed with a two-out RBI double that broke the tie.
Four insurance runs within the eighth stretched Wisconsin's lead to 7-2. Ronnie Gideon slugged a home run to open the inning. Oquendo later added a sacrifice fly, and Dallas Carroll posted a two-out, two-run single to cap the scoring.
The Timber Rattler trio of Thomas Jankins, Drake Owenby, and Alec Kenilvort pitched in the victory. Jankins (8-6) earned his team-high eighth win after allowing just two runs - one earned - over five innings. Owenby pitched three shutout innings for his first hold. Kenlivort tossed a perfect ninth inning in a non-save situation.
Tyler Beardsley (3-6) took the loss in Monday's contest. He allowed three runs over 4.2 innings pitched and suffered his fifth consecutive losing decision.
Tuesday's series finale is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with left-hander Bryan Sammons (0-0, 9.00) slated to start for the Kernels. Right-hander Chase Anderson (0-0, -.--) is expected to pitch for Wisconsin on rehab assignment from the Milwaukee Brewers. Catch the action with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com, and www.kernels.com.
Cedar Rapids' next homestand is a four-game series against the Quad Cities River Bandits that starts Thursday, August 10. Fans can purchase tickets for all 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 Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. On Sundays when the Kernels have a home game, the Kernels Ticket Office will open at 11:00 a.m.