The Cedar Rapids Kernels used two pitchers for a three-hit, 4-0 shutout of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Thursday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Cedar Rapids scored all four of their runs with two outs as they won for the fifth time in six games.
Kernels starting pitcher Adrian Bohorquez allowed one hit, walked two, and struck out four over five innings. He was helped out by a pair of double plays that stopped Wisconsin rallies in their tracks. Bohorquez faced one over the minimum for his five frames.
Rattlers starter Josh Knoth had to work around a runner at second with no outs in the bottom of the fourth after Yasser Mercedes drew a lead-off walk and stole second. Knoth managed to keep Mercedes at second on a flyout to shallow right, a strikeout, and a grounder to third.
Cedar Rapids (44-65 overall, 13-32 second half) broke the ice in the bottom of the fifth. Knoth attempted to get out of another runner at second with no outs jam after a lead-off double by Quinn McDaniel. He almost got there. Knoth retired the next two batters and needed to get through Byron Chourio, cousin of Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio.
The count was 2-2 and Chourio fouled off two pitches. He singled to center the seventh pitch of the at bat, Braylon Payne fielded the ball on one hop and thew to the plate. The throw was a little off line to allow McDaniel to score the first run of the game. Chourio beat the throw to second by catcher Yannic Walther. Jacob McCombs followed with another single to drive in Chourio for a 2-0 lead.
Wisconsin (57-49, 23-21) also struggled against Kernels reliever Michael Ross, who retired the first nine Rattlers he faced.
The Kernels added two more runs with two outs in the eighth inning. Reliever Tanner Perry gave up a lead-off single and stolen base to McCombs before picking him off second for the first out. Yasser Mercedes doubled off the wall in left and went to third on a flyball to right. Perry walked the next two batters on 3-2 pitches to load the bases. McDaniel singled to right to score two runs and the Kernels were up 4-0.
Juan Baez and Walther had back-to-back singles in the top of the ninth for Wisconsin against Ross. Ross got the final three outs on a force play at second, a strikeout, and a grounder to short for his first save.
The Rattlers have dropped three straight to the Kernels.
Game four of the series is Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Ethan Dorchies (4-8, 5.40) is the announced starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Justin Mitrovich (2-0, 2.41) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Kernels. Game time is 6:35pm.
