Rattlers Beat Cedar Rapids 7-2

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers beat the Cedar Rapids Kernels 7-2 on Monday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Wisconsin broke a 2-2 tie with an RBI double by Keston Hiura in the fifth inning and added four runs in the eighth inning to pull away from Cedar Rapids.

The Kernels (58-56 overall, 19-25 second half) took the lead in the top of the second inning. Ben Rortvedt doubled to start the inning. He moved to third on a grounder. Trey Cabbage drove in Rortvedt with a single.

The Rattlers (46-66, 20-24) took the lead in the bottom of the third inning. They loaded the bases with no outs as Jonathan Oquendo walked, Trever Morrison doubled, and Dallas Carroll walked. Demi Orimoloye's foul pop was caught near the tarp by Kernels' first baseman Lewin Diaz. However, he made the catch with his back to the plate and Oquendo tagged and scored on the play to tie the game. Morrison also tagged and took third on the play. Keston Hiura put the Rattlers up 2-1 with a deep fly to right on which Morrison tagged and scored after the catch.

Cedar Rapids rallied to tie the game with an unearned run in the top of the fourth. Rortvedt doubled and would go to third after a misplayed grounder to Morrison at short. Cabbage drove in Rortvedt with a sacrifice fly to even the score 2-2.

Morrison was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the fifth inning. He tagged on a deep fly to left-center off the bat of Orimoloye to get into scoring position. Hiura cashed in Morrison with a ringing double to right field and the Rattlers were up 3-2.

Thomas Jankins was the starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. He scattered seven hits over five innings and struck out five before turning the game over to the bullpen.

Drake Owenby protected the lead with three scoreless innings for Wisconsin.

The Timber Rattlers offense added four insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Ronnie Gideon lined a lead-off homer to left. His twelfth home run of the season made it 4-2. Later in the inning, Oquendo drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Dallas Carroll capped the inning with a two-out, two-run single.

Alec Kenilvort tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning to close out the win.

Jankins is 5-0 in his last five appearances with the Timber Rattlers. He has allowed two earned runs in 25 innings over his last five appearances.
The final game of the series - and of Wisconsin's homestand - is Tuesday night. Chase Anderson, who is on a rehabilitation assignment for the Milwaukee Brewers, will be the starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Bryan Sammons (0-0, 9.00) is set to start for the Kernels. Game time is 7:05pm.
The first 500 fans to attend this game will receive a mini-megaphone from WVBO, one of the sponsors of our Business Person Special on Tuesday night. Show your business card when you purchase a ticket and for $14.50 you will receive a box seat ticket, a beverage and your choice of brat or hot dog. The offer is also available to senior citizens (55 & older) and military personnel courtesy of Baker Tilly, WVBO, and AM1280 WNAM.
If you can't make it out to the ballpark, there are several ways to follow the action. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Pregame Show at 6:45pm. The broadcast is also available on TuneIn Radio, IHeartRadio, and MiLB.tv.