Kernels rally to beat Rattlers
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had a 2-0 lead on Wednesday night at Perfect Game Field, but it wasn't enough. The Cedar Rapids Kernels rallied to tie the game in the fourth and take the lead for good in the fifth on the way to a 7-3 win over the Rattlers.
Wisconsin (13-34) grabbed the lead in the second inning. Sthervin Matos hit a two-run home run to left-center to give the Rattlers a 2-0 advantage.
The Kernels (30-17) tied the game in the fourth inning with two runs off Cy Sneed. The inning started with a walk to Max Murphy. He took second on a slow roller to second base. Pat Kelly followed with an RBI single to center. Sneed struck out the next batter, but allowed a two out single to Tyler Kuresa. Then, Blake Schmit singled to drive in Kelly with the tying run.
Cedar Rapids took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Nick Gordon doubled and TJ White walked. Sneed threw a wild pitch to move both runners up a base. Murphy singled to center to chase in the go-ahead runs and Sneed from the game.
Dustin DeMuth brought the Rattlers back to within a run in the top of the sixth inning. The left-handed first baseman cracked a leadoff homer to right on the first pitch of the frame and Wisconsin was only down 4-3.
But, the Kernels responded against reliever Tyler Linehan in the bottom of the sixth. Brett Doe doubled, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kuresa.
Cedar Rapids added to their total in the seventh inning. Gordon walked, stole second, and took third on a grounder. That ended Linehan's night. Gian Rizzo became the third Wisconsin pitcher and he gave up back-to-back- RBI doubles to Murphy and Jorge Fernandez. Those hits put the Kernels up 7-3.
The Rattlers didn't get to Kernels starting pitcher Felix Jorge after the DeMuth homer. Jose Velez and Luke Brank combined to work the final three innings in scoreless fashion to close out the game.
Greg McCall had three hits for the Wisconsin offense, but the Rattlers dropped their fourth straight game.
Wisconsin is also 0-8 against the Kernels in 2015.
The final game of Wisconsin's 11-game road trip is Thursday night at Perfect Game Field. Kodi Medeiros (1-2, 5.03) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Jared Wilson (4-0, 2.58) is the starter for the Kernels. Game time is 6:35pm.
Catch all the action on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. The broadcast may also be heard on Tune In Radio and IHeartRadio.
HOME RUNS:
WIS:
Sthervin Matos (3rd, 1 on in 2nd inning off Felix Jorge, 0 out)
Dustin DeMuth (3rd, 0 on in 6th inning off Felix Jorge, 0 out)
WP: Felix Jorge (3-2)
LP: Cy Sneed (2-6)
TIME: 2:41
ATTN: 2,237