Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Cedar Rapids Kernels
May 7th, 2001
| Wisconsin |
|
|
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
|
8 |
11 |
1 |
| Cedar Rapids |
|
|
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
4 |
6 |
2 |
E-Liriano, Raburn, Tolli, DP-WIS_0, CR-0, LOB WIS-6, CR-4, 2B-Strong, Bubela, Castellano, HR-Roper (Wells/3rd/4 runs), SB-Lopez, Liriano, CS-Campo, Tolli, HBP-Raburn
HB-Head, WP-Harris, SO-Strong, Lopez, Bubela, Carroll, Withey, Lindsey, Roper 2, Rogers, Duran 2, BB-Carroll, Dusan, Lindsey, Rogers
T-2:30, A-604
Cedar Rapids Gazette
by Jeff Johnson
It appears that frustration has offically set in for the Cedar Rapids Kernels.
You can sense it in the clubhouse. You can hear it in the quieter than normal tones of manager Tyrone Boykin.
"Very much so," Boykin said after his Kernels gave up four ninth inning runst o drop another toughie Monday night at Memorial Stadium, 8-4, to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
"Everybody is frustrated right now," Boykin said, "The main thing is we've got to stay up. We've been playing pretty good baseball. We've just got to find a way to win games."
Right now, the Kernels just can't find any way to win any games.
Cedar Rapids has lost five in a row and 11 of 13. It has dropped to 13-15 overall and all the way down to fifth place with a bullet, in the Midwest League Western Division.
The Kernels went 2-5 on what was considered enormously important three city road trip. They followed that up with another "L" in the opener of a four game series.
"It's frustrating for now, but we've got to put it behind us," said Kernels third baseman Zack Roper, who accounted for all of his team's runs via a third inning grand slam. "There's still a lot of games to play. We don't want to get caught up on one day. Or even four or five days. That doesn't make a season. We need to come out tomorrow and start fresh."
Monday night's debacle followed the precise recipe of so many of the Kernels' losses the past two weeks.
Wisconsin (17-13) scored early and often, nicking Kernels starter Julian Harris for four two out, second inning runs. But Cedar Rapids continued to battle getting Roper's blast his team leading sixth against Wisconsin starter Roy Wells to tie it.
The Kernels then lost it late this time on Jaime Bubel's two out, bases clearing double to center. Bubela lined a first pitch fastball from losing pitcher Billy Stokley (1-2) over the head of center fielder Ryan Withey, who appeared to take a step in on a laster that one hooped the centerfield fence.
John Castellano's ensuing double scored Bubela with another Timber Rattler insurance run. All four runs were unearned because of a one out throwing error on Kernels shortstop Johnny Raburn.
"He came with a good pitch to hit, and fortunately I got it." said Bubela. "When I saw him breaking in, I had a good feeling it was going to go over his head. I'm an outfielder, too and that was a tough play Right at you, those are the hardest balls to read."
"We never can really close the deal." Boykin said. "We fight back, we make a run for it. We just can't get over the hump. It seems like every time we get there the other team finds a way to get it done. And we don't."