The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 6-2 loss to the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Thursday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium followed a familiar script. They fell behind in the first inning, missed out on some chances to get back into the ballgame, and committed a few late miscues to let their opponent add some insurance.
The Kernels (58-35 overall, 15-12 second half) scored four runs in the first inning. Wisconsin starting pitcher Israel Puello loaded the bases on two walks and a single with one out. Puello got a strikeout for the second out but walked Pat Winkel on four pitches to force in the first run of the inning. Wander Javier lined the next pitch to right for a two-run single. Will Holland followed with a ground-rule double to send Winkel home and Cedar Rapids was up 4-0.
Opponents have scored in the first inning in five straight games against the Timber Rattlers.
Wisconsin (48-44, 12-15) started to climb back into the game on an RBI double by Wes Clarke in the first inning and an RBI fielder’s choice from Jose Acosta in the second inning. The Rattlers loaded the bases against Kernels starting pitcher Aaron Rozek in the third inning but did not score.
Yunior Severino hit a one-out solo home run in the top of the fifth inning to put the Kernels back up by three runs.
Aaron Sabato scored the final run of the game with a little help from the Rattlers. He singled and stole second. He took off early for third base with two outs and should have been out. Zach Mort, the Rattlers pitcher, stepped off and made a low throw to third to Zavier Warren, who couldn’t corral the throw, and Sabato was safe. Then, Mort committed a balk as he tried to get set for the next pitch and that let Sabato trot home.
The Timber Rattlers had their chances. The left the bases loaded in the third, left a runner at second in the fourth and fifth, a runner at third in the eighth, and runners at the corners in the ninth. In all, Wisconsin stranded ten runners and went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position. The one hit with a runner in scoring position was a single by Darrien Miller that moved Ethan Murray from second to third base.
Wisconsin has lost ten games in a row for the first time since the 2018 season. The Rattlers lost ten in a row twice that season – April 13 through April 23 and June 11 through June 24.
Game four of the series is Friday night at Neuroscience Group Field. Antoine Kelly (2-4, 3.41) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. The Kernels have named Cade Povich (6-7, 4.40) as their starter. Game time is 6:40pm.
