Wisconsin win streak slips away
GRAND CHUTE, WI - The
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers let one get away on Monday afternoon.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning
to defeat the Rattlers 11-10 at Time Warner Cable Field.
The loss prevented the Rattlers from getting their fifth win in a row and
from getting back to the .500 mark in the second half.
Jose Jimenez, who had four RBI in the game, singled in the tying and
winning runs with two outs in the top of the ninth.
Wisconsin (50-68 overall, 24-26 second half) appeared to take a very comfortable
6-0 lead when they sent ten men to the plate and scored six runs in the bottom
of the second inning. Michael
Marseco drove in the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly.
There were two out and D'Vontrey Richardson in scoring position when
Cutter Dykstra singled to drive in Richardson with the second run.
Scooter Gennett followed with a two-run homer.
Then, Kentrail Davis singled and Khris Davis walked.
Hunter Morris tripled off the wall in right-center and the Rattlers were
up 6-0.
Cedar Rapids (71-46, 28-21) started their first comeback of the afternoon with
their first of four home runs. Jake
Odorizzi gave up a two-out solo homer to Jon Karcich in the third inning.
In the fourth, the Kernels had a pair of runners in scoring position with two
outs. Jimenez foreshadowed his later
heroics with a single to score both runs and make the score 6-3.
Odorizzi gave up a single and a hit batsman to start the top of the fifth.
Jean Segura hit a three-run homer and the Kernels tied the game 6-6.
Wisconsin rallied to retake the lead by sending ten men to the plate again -
this time in the sixth inning. Dykstra
was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Gennett followed with a single, his
third hit of four on the day. Kentrail
Davis doubled in Dykstra, Khris Davis singled in Gennett.
Morris sent a grounder to third, but the throw went to the plate and
Kentrail Davis beat the throw. Later
in the inning, Cameron Garfield singled to knock Khris Davis home for a 10-6
lead.
Nick Bucci came on in relief for the Rattlers to start the seventh inning and he
worked around a leadoff walk. But,
in the eighth, Eric Oliver lead off the inning with a homer to bring the Kernels
to within 10-7.
The top of the ninth inning started with Bucci giving a free pass to Karcich.
Jean Segura was retired on a long fly ball to center.
But, Matt Long was next and his fly ball cleared the fence in right for a
two-run homer and a 10-9 score.
Closer Jon Pokorny was summoned from the bullpen to finish off the Kernels.
Instead, Jeremy Cruz singled. Then,
uncharacteristically, Pokorny walked Oliver to put the lead run on base.
Pokorny had walked just 16 batters in 53-1/3 innings before Monday.
Randal Grichuk popped out to shallow right and Gennett made the catch, but the
second baseman stumbled to the ground after making the play.
Terrell Alliman, who was pinch running for Cruz at second, tagged and
headed for third. Gennett got to his
feet and fired an ill-advised throw wide of third base.
Alliman stayed at third, but Michael Demperio, who was pinch running for
Oliver at first, took off for second and made it safely to put the go ahead run
in scoring postion.
Pokorny got ahead of Jimenez 1-2 to get the Rattlers to within one pitch of the
victory. But, Jimenez got a pitch up
and out over the plate and he drove a single to left that scored both runs to
give the Kernels an 11-10 lead.
A scary play started the bottom of the ninth.
Kernels closer Johnny Hellweg, who had entered the game in the bottom of
the eighth, hit Dykstra on the batting helmet with a 95mph fastball on a 3-1
pitch. Dykstra went to the ground
and stayed down for a few moments before walking off the field under his own
power. There was no word on
Dykstra's condition after the game.
One out later, Kentrail Davis drew a walk to move the tying run into scoring
position. Hellweg got the next two
batters on fly balls to the outfield to finish the game.
The Rattlers are off on Tuesday night. They
return to action on Wednesday night at Time Warner Cable Field against the
Beloit Snappers. Wisconsin will send
Damon Krestalude (2-8, 6.47) to the hill. Beloit
has Clint Dempster (2-2, 3.38) as their scheduled starting pitcher.
Game time is 7:05pm.
Wednesday is a special WAPL Bang For Your Buck Night with soda, hot dogs, and
Miller Beer for $1. Plus, the first
500 fans into Time Warner Cable Field will receive a Scooter Gennett Magnet
courtesy of Lamers Bus Lines.
If you can't make it out to Time Warner Cable Field on Wednesday night, you
can tune in to the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite
Pregame Show at 6:45pm.
HOME
RUNS:
CR:
Jon Karcich (5th, 0 on in 3rd inning, off Jake Odorizzi, 2
out)
Jean Segura (9th, 2 on in 5th inning, off Jake Odorizzi, 0
out)
Eric Oliver (3rd, 0 on in 8th inning, off Nick Bucci, 0
out)
Matt Long (4th, 1 on in 9th inning, off Nick Bucci, 1 out)
WI:
Scooter Gennett (9th, 1 on in 2nd, off Max Russell, 2 out)
WP:Johnny Hellweg (1-3)
LP: Jon Pokorny (4-5)
TIME: 3:20
ATTN: 3,932
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