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Kernels Walk off River Bandits to Avoid Sweep, 3-2

August 17, 2012 - Midwest League (MWL) Quad Cities River Bandits

The Cedar Rapids Kernels snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Quad Cities River Bandits when designated hitter Abel Baker hit a one-out, walk-off single to left field in the bottom of the ninth inning of a 3-2 Cedar Rapids win Friday night at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

In a 2-2, ninth-inning tie, River Bandits right-hander Heath Wyatt (4-6) allowed a one-out double by left fielder Zach Borenstein, who had two doubles for one-third of the Kernels' six hits. Wyatt intentionally walked right fielder Gary Mitchell before Baker singled to left field and drove in Borenstein, who scored all three Kernels runs. With the hit, Baker extended an 11-game hitting streak.

The River Bandits (25-28 second half, 60-62 overall) out-hit the Kernels, 8-6, but missed a chance to complete their first road series sweep of the season. They finished 13-5 this season against Cedar Rapids to match Quad Cities' most wins in a season against any opponent as a Cardinals affiliate. The River Bandits won 13 games against Peoria last season.

Quad Cities right-hander Boone Whiting was in line for his first win until Cedar Rapids tied the game, 2-2, in the seventh inning, when catcher Zach Wright hit an RBI double to left field that chased left-handed reliever Jonathan Cornelius. With two outs, Wyatt came in for Cornelius, who allowed one hit and one run while striking out three batters in 1 2/3 innings. Wyatt escaped the inning by getting third baseman Trevor Hairgrove to line out to left field and retired the first five batters he faced before Borenstein doubled in the ninth.

Borenstein also helped Cedar Rapids (16-37, 48-75 overall) open the scoring in the bottom of the second inning against Whiting. The Kernels left fielder hit a leadoff double and moved to third base on a wild pitch before scoring on Mitchell's single to right field. It was the only run against Whiting in his second start for Quad Cities. He allowed three hits with one walk and five strikeouts in five innings.

Quad Cities tied the game, 1-1, in the top of the third inning, as shortstop Matt Williams and second baseman Luis Mateo drew consecutive walks against right-hander Frank De Jiulio. After left fielder Jordan Walton flied out, center fielder Nick Martini singled to right field, and Mitchell overthrew home plate, which allowed Williams to score an unearned run.

The River Bandits took the lead in the fifth inning, as Walton hit a one-out single to right field and scored on Martini's double to right-center field that ended the night for De Jiulio, who gave up two runs - one earned - on five hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked two batters and struck out four.

The Kernels bullpen of left-hander Michael Johnson and right-hander R.J. Alvarez (1-2) pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings. Johnson allowed one hit and had two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings, while Alvarez allowed two hits and struck out four batters in the final two innings.

The River Bandits open a four-game series with the Beloit Snappers Saturday night at 7 p.m. Right-hander Tyrell Jenkins (3-4) faces Snappers left-hander Matt Tomshaw (4-2), as Quad Cities will try to snap a five-game losing streak against Beloit.

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Midwest League Stories from August 17, 2012


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