Rattlers drop 15-1 decision to the Kernels
Wisconsin (65-49 overall, 21-24 second half) scored first. Lance Roenicke was at first base and Cameron Garfield singled down the line in left. Roenicke stopped at third. The throw went to second base and took a bad bounce. Roenicke scored and the Rattlers were up 1-0.
The Kernels (46-69, 14-31) stormed back in the third inning. An RBI double by Eric Stamets and a RBI single by Alex Yarbrough put Cedar Rapids up 2-1. A two-run homer by Workman made it 4-1.
Cedar Rapids sent nine men to the plate and scored five times in the top of the fourth inning. A grounder off the bat of Trevor Hairgrove drove in the first run of the frame. Staments drove in another run with a single and Workman knocked in a run with a grounder. Frazier Hall capped the inning with a two-run double to make it 9-1.
Wisconsin had a few chances early. Carlos George singled to start the third inning, Ben McMahan doubled with two outs in the fourth, and Mike Garza doubled to lead off the fifth inning. But, three Kernels pitchers would retire the final fifteen Wisconsin hitters of the game after the double by Garza.
Eswarlin Jimenez allowed an unearned run on five hits over 5-2/3 innings. Joe Melioris pitched 2-1/3 innings of perfect relief and Frank De Jiulio worked a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the Rattlers.
Jimenez is 6-4 with a 3.67ERA on the season. But, Jimenez is 3-0 with a 1.89ERA against the Timber Rattlers in 2012.
The Kernels were not done with the offense. They scored two runs in the sixth on a single and an error. Cedar Rapids added two more on back-to-back RBI doubles by Drew Martinez and Stamets. An RBI grounder and an error in the eighth inning pushed two more runs home to give the Kernels a 15-1 lead.
Game two of the series is Thursday night. Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Shaun Marcum is scheduled to make the start for the Timber Rattlers. Cam Bedrosian (3-8, 5.08) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Kernels. Game time is 7:05pm.
The first 500 fans to attend this game will receive a magnet of current Timber Rattler - and Milwaukee Brewers pitching prospect - David Goforth. As part of Thirsty Thursday, 16oz soda and beer for just $2 as part of Thirsty Thursday presented by Slugger's Sports Bar! After the game, those in attendance can take their ticket stub to Sluggers Sports Bar - located in Super Bowl on Northland Avenue - to win Miller Lite drinks and prizes.
Sports32 will have the broadcast of the game for subscribers of Time Warner Cable.
The radio broadcast of the game is available on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:45pm. Subscribers of MiLB.TV can tune in for the game that way, too.
HOME RUN:
CR:
Andy Workman (9th, 1 on in 3rd inning off Jacob Barnes, 1 out)
WP: Eswarlin Jimenez (6-4)
LP: Jacob Barnes (4-5)
TIME: 2:49
ATTN: 4,984