Williams Ks 11 in game two for 2-0 shutout
Cedar Rapids (46-71 overall, 14-33 second half) had a few chances early against Williams. A walk and a two out single put runners at first and second in the third inning. Williams ended that inning with a strikeout. Alex Yarbrough doubled to start the fourth. Williams got a flyout to center, a grounder to first and strikeout number six to keep Yarbrough from scoring.
Wisconsin (67-49, 23-24) had difficulty mounting a rally against Kernels starting pitcher Austin Wood, who did not give up a hit in his first 4-1/3 innings. That would change in the bottom of the fifth.
Greg Hopkins and Mike Garza each singled with one out. Yadiel Rivera followed with a single to center and Hopkins scored the first run of the game. Later in the inning, Max Walla's two-out single scored Garza and the Rattlers were up 2-0.
Williams went back out for the sixth inning and pitched around a one out single by recording his ninth and tenth strikeouts of the night.
The Rattlers starter headed to the mound for the top of the seventh and a chance for the first complete game by a Rattlers pitcher this season. He got the first two outs, but allowed a single to Abel Baker that extended the game.
Cedar Rapids went to pinch-hitter Frazier Hall, who had homered off Shaun Marcum in game one of the doubleheader. Williams got Hall to chase a 2-2 pitch for strike three to end the game with his eleventh strikeout of the game.
The Timber Rattlers continue their homestand with a three-game series against the Clinton LumberKings. Game one against Clinton is Saturday night. Fond du Lac, Wisconsin native Chad Pierce (5-4, 3.67) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. The LumberKings will send Mayckol Guaipe (3-0, 3.19) to the mound. Game time is 6:35pm.
Saturday is Jimmy Buffett Night and Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium becomes Margaritaville. The Rattlers players will wear special Jimmy Buffett jerseys and you can bid during the silent auction to take one of the jerseys home. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Fox Valley Humane Association.
It's also a Fly Away Saturday. One lucky fan will win airfare for two from Funjet Vacations and Fox World Travel at this game! FOX 11 presents a postgame fireworks display. Stick around after the fireworks for a concert tropical songs from OD-TAPO-IMI.
If you can't make it out to the ballpark, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. Saturday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.
WP: Mark Williams (6-9)
LP: Austin Wood (5-11)
TIME: 1:54
ATTN: 3,674