(WNFL) CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – In a game that featured four blown saves, the Cedar Rapids Kernels scored the winning run in the bottom of the twelfth inning on a wild pitch to defeat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 9-8 at Perfect Game Field. The loss spoiled big offensive nights for Isan Diaz, Mitch Ghelfi, and Troy Stokes, Jr. Luis Arraez had a big night for the home team and wound up scoring the decisive run.
Stokes started the game with a double, the first of his four hits on the night. Ghelfi followed with a single. Jake Gatewood drove in Stokes with a sacrifice fly and the Rattlers (41-43 overall, 7-7 second half) were up 1-0.The Kernels (43-30, 7-7) scored twice in the third inning. They had runners at first and second with no outs on a walk and an error. Rattlers starting pitcher Devin Williams got the third batter of the inning to ground into a double play. But, back-to-back RBI doubles by Sean Miller and Arraez put Cedar Rapids up 2-1.Diaz tied the game in the top of the fourth when he launched a leadoff homer to right. Diaz also hit a leadoff homer in the top of the fourth on Tuesday night in Cedar Rapids.Cedar Rapids went back in front in the bottom of the fifth inning. The first two batters reached on singles against Williams. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position. Williams got the second out of the inning on a fly to shallow right. But, Arraez singled to left-center to drive in two runs and the Kernels had a 4-2 lead.Diaz started the Wisconsin comeback in the sixth inning with a one-out, line drive homer to left field to get the Rattlers to within a run. The homer was his eleventh of the season. Kernels starting pitcher Eddie Del Rosario got the second out of the inning. Then, the Kernels went to lefty Anthony McIver to face Juan Ortiz, the Rattlers left-hand hitting designated hitter. Ortiz foiled the strategy by lining a single to center. Lefty David Denson followed with a double to left to score Ortiz with the tying run. Luis Aviles put the Rattlers in front with a single to right to get Denson home.The Kernels rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning against reliever Drake Owenby. Rainis Silva started the inning with a single. Daniel Kihle dropped a single into short right field with one out. Miller lined a three-run homer to left and Cedar Rapids was back in front 7-5.Kuo Hua Lo entered the game in the top of the ninth inning to close out the game for the Kernels, but he walked Brandon Diaz and Stokes with one out. Ghelfi was next and he crushed the first pitch of his at bat to right field for a three-run homer and an 8-7 lead for the Timber Rattlers.Scott Grist retired Silva to start the bottom of the tenth, but gave up a single to Jermaine Palacios before getting a strikeout for the second out of the inning. Miller extended the game with a single to bring Arraez to the back to the plate. The Kernels designated hitter singled to center to score Palacios with the tying run.Arraez figured into the final run of the game. Alex Farina walked him to start the bottom of the twelfth. Zander Wiel had a sacrifice bunt to get Arraez into scoring position and the Rattlers elected to walk Nelson Molina to set up a possible double play. JJ Fernandez did hit a grounder to first, but it was hit too slowly for the Rattlers to try and turn two so they took the out at first.Jaylin Davis was at the plate when Farina uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Arraez to race home with the winning run.This is the third time the Kernels have recorded a walkoff win over the Timber Rattlers this season. It is the second time they have scored the winning run on a wild pitch against Wisconsin this season.