Wisconsin Wins Third Straight with 8-4 Victory at Cedar Rapids
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers shortstop Eric Brown Jr. collected his second four-hit, three-RBI game of the series with the Cedar Rapids Kernels when he went 4-for-5 and knocked in three runs during Wisconsin’s 8-4 win over the Kernels on Thursday night at PG Cares Field. Brown, who
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers shortstop Eric Brown Jr. collected his second four-hit, three-RBI game of the series with the Cedar Rapids Kernels when he went 4-for-5 and knocked in three runs during Wisconsin’s 8-4 win over the Kernels on Thursday night at PG Cares Field. Brown, who also scored two runs on Thursday night, snapped a 2-2 tie with an RBI single in the second inning and added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth inning to lead the Timber Rattlers to their third consecutive win.
Brown doubled, and Robert Moore singled to start the game for the Rattlers (14-27) to put runners on the corners with no outs. Cedar Rapids starter Kyle Jones struck out the next two batters. However, Darrien Miller didn’t let the opportunity go to waste. The Wisconsin designated hitter lined a pitch to the corner in right for a two-run double and the Rattlers had the lead.
The Kernels (22-20) tied the game in the bottom of the first inning. Kala’i Rosario hit a two-run home run with one out to even the score.
Wisconsin knocked Jones out of the game in the top of the second. The first three batters of the inning reached on two singles and a walk to load the bases. Brown singled to left to drive in the first run and Jones from the game.
Orlando Rodriguez entered the game from the Kernels bullpen and uncorked a wild pitch to let another run score. Robert Moore and Matt Wood had back-to-back RBI grounders to score the final two runs of the inning to give the Rattlers a 6-2 lead.
Brown added to the Wisconsin lead in the top of the sixth inning. Alex Hall singled and Ernesto Martinez doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Brown smacked a single to center to score both runners and the Rattlers were up 8-2.
Edwin Jimenez was the beneficiary of the Wisconsin offense. The starter settled down after the homer by Rosario in the first inning. He went five innings, walked two, allowed four hits, and struck out five to earn his first win as a Timber Rattler.
Joseph Hernandez relieved Jimenez to start the sixth inning and retired the first five batters he faced. Hernandez hit a batter with two outs in the seventh before giving up a two-run home run to Keoni Cavaco. He got the final out of the seventh and pitched around a two-out walk in the eighth.
In the ninth, Hernandez retired the first batter on a grounder, but left the game with the training and coaching staff walking alongside him to the dugout.
Justin King took over for Hernandez and gave up a single before striking out the next two batters to close out the game.
Brown, the #1 pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2022 draft, also went 4-for-5 on Tuesday night. Brown is 9-for-15 with five runs and six RBI in the first three games of the series with the Kernels.
Game four of the series is Friday night at PG Cares Field. Cameron Wagoner (1-6, 9.53) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Cedar Rapids has named Marco Raya (0-0, 3.07) as their starter. Game time is 6:35pm. The broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starts with the Community Blood Center Pregame Show at 6:15pm. Fans can listen on the radio, on the First Pitch app, or at this link. The internet video feed is available to subscribers of Bally Live, too.