Kernels Take Game Two From Wisconsin
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers lost 4-1 to the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Wednesday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The loss put the Timber Rattlers on the verge of elimination in their playoff race with the Peoria Chiefs.
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers lost 4-1 to the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Wednesday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The loss put the Timber Rattlers on the verge of elimination in their playoff race with the Peoria Chiefs.
Click here for the postgame podcast
Cedar Rapids (82-46 overall, 42-20 second half) pounced on several miscues by the Rattlers in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Noah Miller reached second on a dropped flyball to left to open the game. A passed ball allowed him to take third. A wild pitch by Aaron Ashby, who was on his second rehabilitation start from the Milwaukee Brewers, allowed Miller to score the first run of the game.
In the top of the second, Ashby retired the first two batters he faced before walking Kyler Fedko. That ended Ashby’s day as he had reached his pitch limit.
Cameron Wagoner took over for Ashby and gave up a single and a walk to load the bases. Then, Emmanuel Rodriguez singled to center to score two runs for a 3-0 lead.
Ashby was charged with two runs – one earned – on one hit with two walks and two strikeouts over 1-2/3 innings. He threw 33 pitches with sixteen for strikes.
Wisconsin (58-68, 32-30) managed one hit over five innings against Cedar Rapids starter Cory Lewis. Eduardo García singled with one out in the fifth. An error on a force play allowed the Rattlers to have two on with one out, but Lewis escaped the jam with a popout, and a successful force play to maintain the 3-0 lead.
Brock Wilken singled with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning against reliever Mike Paredes to extend his current hitting streak to eleven games. Then, rain halted play for nearly two hours.
Hendry Mendez set the Rattlers up with a single when the game restarted to put runners at first and second. Darrien Miller knocked in Wilken with a two-out single to get the Rattlers on the scoreboard. Miller tried to advance as the throw to the plate got away from catcher Nick Cossetti. However, the ball didn’t get far enough away from Cossetti and Miller was out by a wide margin to end the inning.
Wagoner and reliever Nick Merkel kept the Kernels in check by retiring sixteen hitters in a row. The streak was snapped when Noah Miller tripled with one out in the eighth. Merkel was able to escape that jam with a pair of strikeouts and a flyout to left.
In the bottom of the eighth, Eric Brown Jr reached on an error to start the inning, but he was left stranded.
Javier Salas added to the Cedar Rapids lead with a one-out, solo home run in the top of the ninth inning.
The Rattlers made the Kernels sweat a little bit in the bottom of the ninth when Miller singled and García reached on a fielder’s choice with one out to bring the tying run to the plate. Then, Jarret Whorff, who got the final out of the eighth inning, got a popup and a strikeout to end the game for his third save.
The loss also all but ended Wisconsin’s playoff chances as the Peoria Chiefs now have a magic number of one. If Peoria wins their home game tonight against the Beloit Sky Carp, the Chiefs will clinch the second half West Division playoff spot and a date with the Cedar Rapids Kernels in the first round of the Midwest League playoffs.
Game three of the series between the Rattlers and Kernels is Thursday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Joe Hernandez (2-3, 3.98) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. CJ Culpepper (2-1, 3.58) is set to start for the Kernels. Game time is 6:40pm.
The first 1,000 fans to attend Thursday’s game will receive a full-size replica Timber Rattlers batting helmet from Titletown. The final Craft Brews & Brats Night of the year presented by Fox River Brewing Company and The Score is happening at this game, too. Sixteen-ounce craft beers from local brewing companies are available to fans who are 21 and older for $3. All fans can purchase a Cher-Make brat for $3 on Thursday.
Additionally, Green Bay Men’s Basketball Coach Sundance Wicks and members of the Phoenix team will be at this game to meet fans as they prepare to start their 2023-2024 season. Coach Wicks will throw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to the game.
If you can’t make it out to the ballpark, the radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Community Blood Center Pregame show at 6:20pm. Fans can listen on the radio, on the First Pitch app, or at this link.
How clubs across Minor League Baseball are celebrating PLAY BALL Weekend
PLAY BALL Weekend is almost here, and Minor League clubs have put together an exciting calendar of events to celebrate MLB’s youth engagement initiative. Some clubs are hosting youth clinics or other events in their home ballparks while others are bringing the joy of baseball and softball into the local
Here are the weirdest plays and stats from MiLB in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Podcast features first-base promotions for Caglianone, Eldridge
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Cubs' Rojas, Mets' Tong headline May's Minor League Players of the Month
Minor League Baseball announced the Player and Pitcher of the Month Award winners for May in Major League Baseball’s player development system.
Minor League Baseball, Joe Torre Safe At Home partnership enters ninth year
For the ninth year, Minor League Baseball and Joe Torre Safe At Home have teamed up to raise awareness about violence and abuse and to inspire fans of all ages to join them in SAH’s critical work. This year, 63 MiLB teams will participate in an in-ballpark initiative from May
MiLB podcast discusses Anthony, Caglianone at Triple-A
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
These are the greatest Minor League promos happening in June
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
New playoff format coming to 2025 Dominican Summer League
Minor League Baseball announced the 2025 Dominican Summer League (DSL) season will begin June 2 with Opening Day festivities taking place at the Boston Red Sox Academy in Guerra. The 2025 campaign will also see the introduction of the DSL Cup, a new playoff format that will see 16 DSL
Debating best Minor League home caps on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
The Omaha Storm Chasers' 'Take Meow-t' cat night included a Litter Box Sundae
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Boston's Triple-A affiliate throws birthday bash for Roman Anthony
With all the hype that has surrounded Roman Anthony over the past two seasons, it’s easy to forget how young he really is. MLB's No. 1 prospect played 70 games at the highest level of the Minors before he could order a beer. But he can now. Roman Anthony turned
Friendly foes, 2024 first-rounders Moore and Caglianone trade first Triple-A homers
For years, Christian Moore and Jac Caglianone laced up their cleats against one another in the SEC. A rivalry that spanned Florida, Tennessee and other landmarks across the South moved to Salt Lake City this week as the Royals and Angels' top prospects got simultaneous Triple-A promotions. So it was
Phillies' Moore, Fausnaught join MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other