By: Niall Rosenberg
KENOSHA, Wis. — Bullpen woes struck the Rivets.
After being victorious in its last three home games, the Rockford Rivets (8-10) took on the Kingfish (8-9) in Kenosha for one of the two games scheduled in the series. The Rivets got out to a nice start, but it was quickly taken away by the Kingfish. The Rivets’ bullpen gave up nine runs in today’s affair. The Rivets fell 12-3.
After a high-scoring first three innings against Royal Oak, the first three innings of today’s ballgame were scoreless. There were only three total baserunners in that stretch, two for Rockford and one for Kenosha.
Danny Cercello (Houston) came out hot in his second appearance versus the Kingfish. He had back-to-back 1-2-3 innings before giving up a sole baserunner in the third. While he was scorching hot on the mound, the Rivets’ bats awakened.
The top of the fourth saw the Rivets load up the bases with one out. John Uchytil (Sonoma State) came up and hit a sacrifice groundout to score Harrison Bowman (Central Michigan). The Rivets scored first in the third straight game.
Kenosha got on the board in the fourth as well. Cercello had command problems in the inning, allowing a single, walking two and hitting a batter with the bases loaded. The Kingfish and Rivets were level at one to end the inning.
Cercello’s day came to an end in the fifth after he gave up two runners with no outs. He finished with four innings pitched, giving up three runs on three hits, walking three and striking out five. A great start to the day, followed by a rough end for the Rivets’ right-hander
Kaleb Dooley (Texas A&M-Texarkana) came in relief for Cercello, and he struggled as well. He walked the first batter he faced, loading them up with no outs. Tragedy struck for the Rivets. The Kingfish blasted a grand slam to center field to put themselves up four through five innings.
The Rivets responded to Kenosha’s big inning with two runs of their own. They loaded up the bases once again for Uchytil. He walked, scoring Gavin Taylor (Nevada Las Vegas).
Kenny Hirschfeld (Lackawanna) picked up his first RBI as a Rivet, hitting an RBI groundout to score Cooper Hinson (Marshall). The Rivets cut the deficit in half.
Kenosha gained back its big lead. The bases were loaded up once again with no outs, from two hit by pitches and a walk. An RBI double to left scored two runs and a sacrifice fly added one more. The Kingfish lead was now five runs.
The Kingfish continued to hit the Rivets’ bullpen well. They added four more runs in the seventh inning off an RBI single, an RBI double and a wild pitch. The Rivets had two innings left to make up the nine-run deficit.
That nine-run deficit remained for the rest of the game. The Rivets’ bats were unable to get going and they fell to the Kingfish.
The Rivets are still on the road for five games, with one still in Kenosha before going to Traverse City to take on the Pit Spitters.
Fans can purchase tickets for Rivets games all season long at www.rockfordrivets.com.
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The Rockford Rivets are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 26 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, 360 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com), ESPN+, and the Northwoods League Network. Learn more and find complete streaming schedules at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit www.rockfordrivets.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rivets as your favorite team.