Rattlers make it a six pack of wins for the week
Rafael Neda put the Timber Rattlers (17-11) up 1-0 with a run scoring single in the bottom of the second inning. Greg Hopkins reached on a single and stole second to start the inning. But, Hopkins was still at second with two outs. Neda got him home with a single to give Wisconsin the lead. Saturday night was the 21st time in 29 games the Rattlers have scored first.
Cedar Rapids (13-16) came back to tie the game in the top of the third on an unearned run against Timber Rattlers starter David Goforth. Kevin Moesquit reached on an error and took second on a wild pitch. Ryan Jones drove in the tying run with a single. But, that was all Goforth let in for the game. The right-hander from Mississippi allowed six hits, walked one, and struck out two over five innings.
Wisconsin came back to take the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Brandon Macias was hit by a pitch and Max Walla singled to send Macias to third with no outs. Rogers put the Rattlers up 2-1 with a sacrifice fly. Later in the inning, Walla scored on a wild pitch.
Rogers added an insurance run in the fifth. Macias led off the inning with a double. One out later, Rogers knocked him in with a single.
Chad Pierce relieved Goforth to start the sixth and worked three scoreless innings to keep Wisconsin up 4-1.
Seth Harvey took over in the top of the ninth inning, but was greeted by Chevy Clarke with a leadoff triple. An error on a Gary Mitchell grounder let Clarke score and put Mitchell on base. Harvey got a strikeout, but Mitchell stole second to get into scoring position. Wendell Soto's RBI single got Mitchell home to cut the Rattlers lead to one run and bring the go ahead run to the plate.
But, Harvey regrouped and struck out the next two batters to end the game.
Game two of the series is Sunday afternoon. Andy Moye (1-0, 2.11) is scheduled to start for the Rattlers. Cam Bedrosian (0-0, 0.00), the son of former major league pitcher Steve Bedrosian, is set to take the hill for the Kernels. Game time is 1:05pm.
Sunday is a Brewers Sunday presented by 107.5, The Fan. The first 1,000 fans to attend Sunday's game will receive a poster of the Rattlers right-hander as #3 in a series of ten that will be given away during the 2012 season.
Before the game fans can play catch on-field courtesy of 77 KIDS. Timber Rattlers will be wearing Brewers-themed jerseys on-field during the game and will be available for an autograph session after the game. Time Warner Cable customers can receive up to four half-priced reserved bleacher tickets when showing their TWC bill at time of ticket purchase.
If you can't make it out to the game, tune in for the game on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 12:45pm. The game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.
WP: David Goforth (3-1)
LP: Jairo Diaz (1-3)
SAVE: Harvey (4)
TIME: 2:48
ATTN: 4,383