GRAND CHUTE, WI – Matt Wallner hit two homers for the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Tuesday night and led the visitors to a 5-3 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium in game one of the six-game series.
The Kernels (41-32) used the long ball to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Edouard Julien hit a two-run home run to score the first two runs of the game. Matt Wallner, who had doubled in the first inning, lined a homer over the wall in right and Cedar Rapids was up 3-0.
The Kernels had runners at the corners with no outs in the top of the fourth inning and scored a run when Wisconsin starting pitcher Freisis Adames go Jair Camargo to ground into a 6-4-3 double play.
Wisconsin (35-37) had chances in the first, third, and fifth innings. Je’Von Ward singled sharply to left with runners at first and second with two outs in bottom of the first inning, but left fielder Michael Helman threw out the runner trying to score at the plate for the final out.
The Rattlers had runners at second and third with one out in the third and runners at the corners with one out in the fifth, but could not score.
Cedar Rapids starting pitcher Louie Varland pitched five scoreless innings and turned a 4-0 lead over to his bullpen.
Thomas Dillard got Wisconsin on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning with a 444-foot home run off the middle of the batter’s eye beyond the wall in center. The home run was Dillard’s thirteenth of the season.
Wisconsin pulled to within two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Hayden Cantrelle drew a walk, stole second, and went to third on a wild pitch. Korry Howell was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners with one out and Dillard hit a wicked line drive to center for a sacrifice fly to score Cantrelle.
Dillard has 60 RBI this season.
Wallner gave the Kernels a 5-2 lead with his second homer of the night when he homered to right to lead off the top of the eighth inning.
Wisconsin drew two walks in the bottom of the eighth, but both were left stranded by reliever Zach Featherstone. The Kernels lefty pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth for his fifth save of the season.
The Timber Rattlers stranded a total of twelve runners in the game and went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
Game two of the series is scheduled for Wednesday night. Zach Mort (1-4, 6.79) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. The Kernels have named Jon Olsen (1-3, 3.40) as their starter. Game time is 7:05pm.
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