Kernels batter Rattlers 8-3
GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers fell behind the Cedar Rapids Kernels early and could not make up the difference on Saturday night. The Kernels beat Wisconsin 8-3 at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Cedar Rapids is 6-1 in seven games with the Timber Rattlers this season.
The Kernels (43-28 overall, 3-0) jumped on the Timber Rattlers for three runs in the top of the first inning. Byron Buxton singled, stole second, and moved to third base on a grounder to the right side. The Timber Rattlers brought the infield in to keep Buxton at third on a ground ball. Jorge Polanco hit a grounder, but the throw to first was high and Polanco reached as Buxton held at third. Dalton Hicks followed with an RBI single to right. Travis Harrison made it 3-0 with a two-run double.
Victor Roache got Wisconsin (29-39, 0-3) on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first with a triple to right-center that scored Alfredo Rodriguez.
But, the Kernels scored single runs in the second and fourth innings to take a 5-1 lead. Jorge Polanco singled in the run in the second. Hicks singled in the run in the fourth.
The Rattlers clawed their way back into the game with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Tyrone Taylor doubled and took third on an error to start the fourth inning. Adam Giacalone drove in Taylor with a sacrifice fly.
Orlando Arcia and Parker Berberet started the Timber Rattlers half of the fifth inning with singles. Chris McFarland bunted both runners up a base. Michael Reed got Arcia home with an infield single. Reed made the score 5-3 and extended his current on base streak to 39 games with that hit.
Cedar Rapids responded in the seventh inning. Buxton tripled with two on and two out to put the Kernels up 7-3. Adam Brett Walker added a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth and the Kernels pushed their lead to five runs.
Kernels reliever Alex Muren retired all nine Rattlers hitters he faced from the sixth through the eighth. Tyler Jones worked a scoreless ninth to close out Wisconsin.
The Timber Rattlers fell to a season low ten games under .500 for the first time season with this loss.
The final game of the four game series is scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Marco Estrada will make a rehabilitation start for the Timber Rattlers. Cedar Rapids has Hudson Boyd (1-4, 6.56) as their scheduled starting pitcher. Game time is 1:05pm.
Sunday is a Brewers Sunday presented by 107.5, The Fan. Timber Rattlers players and coaches will be wearing Brewers-themed jerseys during the game. The jerseys will be up for auction after the final Brewers Sunday of the 2013 season on Sunday, August 25.
The first in a series of four player magnets sponsored by Lamers Bus Lines will go to the first 500 fans to attend this game. The first player to be featured will be 2013 Midwest League All-Star Pitcher Damien Magnifico.
Ed Randall's Fans for the Cure Baseball Road Trip makes its stop at the stadium to educate men and their loved ones about prostate cancer.
Time Warner Cable customers may receive up to four half-priced reserved bleacher tickets when showing their TWC bill at time of ticket purchase. Plus, fans may play catch on-field before the game and get autographs from the players in a post-game autograph session.
If you can't make it out to the ballpark, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 12:45pm. Sunday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.
WP: Brett Lee (5-4)
LP: Jorge Lopez (3-6)
TIME: 2:54
ATTN: 3,396