CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had leads of 2-0 and 3-2 over the Cedar Rapids Kernels Wednesday afternoon at Perfect Game Field. However, the Kernels rallied to beat the Rattlers 4-3 and to stay in the thick of the playoff chase.Korry Howell put the Timber Rattlers (29-36)
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had leads of 2-0 and 3-2 over the Cedar Rapids Kernels Wednesday afternoon at Perfect Game Field. However, the Kernels rallied to beat the Rattlers 4-3 and to stay in the thick of the playoff chase.
Korry Howell put the Timber Rattlers (29-36) in front with a two-out, two-RBI double in the top of the second inning.
Gabriel Maciel brought the Kernels (36-30) back to even with a two-out, two-RBI double in the bottom of the second inning.
Wisconsin went back in front in the top of the fifth inning. Chad McClanahan singled to right to drive in a run for a 3-2 lead.
Cedar Rapids came right back to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth. Estamy Ureña doubled with one out and moved to third on a wild pitch. Yeltsin Encarnacion drove in Ureña with a sacrifice fly.
Andrew Bechtold gave the Kernels their first lead of the game with a two-out solo home run to right in the bottom of the sixth. That would be enough for the Kernels, but not without the Rattlers making them sweat.
McClanahan singled to start the eighth and Brent Díaz drew a walk with one out to put two runners and force the Kernels to go to the bullpen. Moises Gomez took over for Jose Martinez and got a grounder to third off the bat of Je'Von Ward. Bechtold stepped on third to force McClanahan, but his throw to first was wild and Díaz wound up at third with the tying run. Gomez got the final out of the inning on a strikeout.
In the ninth, Yeison Coca singled with one out, but Gomez retired the next two batters on a popup and a strikeout to close out the Rattlers and record his second save of the season.
The loss was the fifth straight for the Rattlers.
The Kernels needed the win to stay one game behind the Burlington Bees in the First Half Western Division Wild Card race. The Bees held on for a 3-1 win at Kane County on Wednesday afternoon. There are four games left in the first half of the season.
The final game of the series is Thursday night at Perfect Game Field. Freisis Adames (0-0, 5.27) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Cedar Rapids had yet to name their starter for Thursday. Game time is 6:35pm. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM and the TuneIn Radio app starting with the Papa John's Pizza Pregame Show at 6:15pm. MiLB.tv subscribers can watch the game over the internet.
