Cougars Rally for Victory at Kernels
July 9, 2016 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - Right-hander Dereck Rodriguez nearly snapped a six-decision losing streak Saturday, but Austin Byler hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning to carry the Kane County Cougars to a 7-4 win over the Cedar Rapids Kernels in front of 3,717 fans at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Kane County (6-11, 39-48) scored five unanswered runs to finish Saturday's contest with the come-from-behind triumph. The Cougars also lead the Kernels (8-9, 44-42) by a 2-0 margin in this four-game series and 6-5 in the season series.
Trevor Mitsui helped Kane County take a 2-0 edge early in the fourth inning. Byler drew a leadoff walk before Mitsui crushed a two-run home run to center field. However, that was the only scoring that Rodriguez allowed in a quality start. Rodriguez only gave up two runs over six innings while posting a game-high seven strikeouts.
The Kernels quickly tied the contest in the bottom of the fourth. A two-out error kept the inning alive, and Jaylin Davis extended the frame with an RBI triple that brought in Nelson Molina. Davis scored on a game-tying single from Brian Olson.
Two more runs produced a 4-2 lead for Cedar Rapids. Sean Miller collected an RBI single in the fifth inning, allowing Christian Cavaness to score. During the bottom of the sixth, Jermaine Palacios drove in Molina with an RBI single before he and Davis were put out within an inning-ending 7-5-4-5-4-5 double play.
Byler's blast in the eighth put the Cougars back on top. After Max Cordy allowed a single and a walk, Byler lifted the first pitch he saw into the Plumbers & Pipefitters Pavilion for a three-run home run that gave Kane County a 5-4 lead.
The Cougars scored two more runs in the ninth inning to reach their winning margin of 7-4. Joe Munoz brought in Joey Armstrong on an RBI groundout. Raymel Flores scored later in the frame on a wild pitch.
Kirby Bellow (1-0) claimed the win for the Cougars, holding Cedar Rapids scoreless for the final three innings of Saturday's tilt. Cordy (0-1) was charged for the blown save and the loss in his Kernels debut, allowing three runs in two frames.
The third game of this four-game series will be at 2:05 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Kernels right-hander Sam Gibbons (3-3, 4.83 ERA) will pitch against Cougars southpaw Junior Garcia (3-7, 4.41 ERA). Catch all of the coverage with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and online at www.kmryradio.com, www.kernels.com and MiLB.TV.
Western Fraternal Life Kids Eat Free Sunday means that all kids aged 12 and under receive a coupon a free hot dog, popcorn and Capri Sun. Fans can run the bases, play catch in the outfield and get autographs from the Kernels after the game courtesy of Jimmy John's and 104.5 KDAT. Fans who ride their bikes to the game for New Belgium Brewing Bike to the Ballpark are eligible to win prizes from New Belgium Brewing. Also, play Travel Advisors Baseball Bingo for a chance to win a trip to Minneapolis for a Twins game.
Tickets for all Kernels home games are available at www.kernels.com, the Kernels Ticket Office and by calling (319) 896-7560. The Kernels Ticket Office is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. The ticket office is closed on Sundays except on Kernels Sunday home dates when it will open at 11:00 a.m.
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