by Kevin Kimmes
On Saturday afternoon the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers faced off against the Cedar Rapids Kernels in the third and final game of their season opening homestand. The Timber Rattlers, who were 0-2 going into Saturday’s contest, put the ball in the hands of right hander Brandon Williamson, while the Kernels countered with lefty Ryan Crowley.
Not wasting any time, the Timber Rattlers struck first as center fielder Chadwin Stang recorded his first hit of the young season, a double, which led off the bottom of the 1st inning. Two batters later, Stang would reach home on a Jason Rogers double. Rogers, who was hitting in the designated hitter position on Saturday, would also steal third, but would find himself stranded as the next two hitters struck out.
The Kernels would answer with a run of their own in the top of the 3rd thanks to a solo homerun from shortstop Trevor Hairgrove, tying the game at one run a piece.
The Kernels would take the lead, 2-1, in the top of the 5th when center fielder Chevy Clarke singled, stole second, was advance to third on a grounder from catcher Carlos Lugo, and eventually scoring on a passed ball during Hairgrove’s at bat. The Rattlers answered back in the bottom of the 5th on a solo homer from Stang, tying the score at 2 a piece.
The 6th inning would see the Kernels create a run out of no hits as both third baseman Kaleb Cowart and designated hitter Frazier Hall drew walks. Cowart, who stole 2nd during Hall’s at bat, would be advanced to third on a fielder’s choice which removed Hall from the base paths, and placed first baseman Gary Mitchell at 1st. During Clarke’s at bat, Mitchell broke for 2nd, reaching easily as catcher Tyler Roberts’ throw got past second baseman Greg Hopkins, allowing Cowart to steal home ahead of the throw to the plate. This brought the score to 3-2 in favor of the Kernels.
The Rattlers answered back in the 7th when right fielder John Dishon drew a walk to start off the inning which allowed Stang to reach 1st on a fielder’s choice in the next at bat. A Hopkins grounder would advance Stang to second, and he would score off of a Roger’s RBI single to again tie the game, now at 3 a piece.
The 9th would see both teams slugging it out. The Kernels would manufacture 3 runs thanks to a Hairgrove RBI single that scored Clarke from third and a double from center fielder Ryan Jones which would score Hairgrove and second baseman Kevin Mosequit. The Kernels were now in the drivers seat with a lead of 6-3 with only 3 outs remaining, but it would not be enough to complete the series sweep.
With one out in the bottom of the 9th, Dishon walked, eventually scoring on a Stang RBI double bringing the score to 6-4. Hopkins and Rogers would both walk to load the bases, still with only one out. A single from left fielder Ben McMahan would score both Stang and Hopkins, and in the process, tie the game at 6 a piece.
First baseman Parker Berberet would bury the dagger with a walkoff single that scored Roger’s from third and gave the Timber Rattlers their first win of the 2012 season.
The Rattlers will return home to Time Warner Cable Field on Thursday April 12th as they take on Peoria. Game time is set for 6:35 pm.
Game at a Glance:
Player of the Game: Chadwin Stang – 3/4 with 2 doubles, 1 homerun and 2 RBIs
WP: Stephen Peterson (1-0)
LP: Logan Odom (0-1)
TIME: 3:05
ATTN: 1,192
