Nordgren, Wiel Lead Kernels to 8-1 Win
May 22, 2016 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - Seven solid innings from right-hander Miles Nordgren at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium helped the Cedar Rapids Kernels claim an 8-1 win Sunday over the Quad Cities River Bandits. Zander Wiel slugged his first Kernels home run and drove in three runs within the victory, which gave Cedar Rapids a 2-1 series lead over Quad Cities.
Quad Cities (18-24) tagged Nordgren for only one run during the first inning. Aaron Mizell opened Sunday's game with a double and moved to third base on Myles Straw's bunt single. An RBI groundout by Kyle Tucker scored Mizell for a 1-0 River Bandits lead.
Nordgren stranded a pair of runners to end the top of the first and also escaped jams in the second and fourth innings to keep the River Bandits from adding more runs. He finished with a career-high seven innings pitched and gave up eight hits, one run and one walk while collecting four strikeouts.
The Kernels (24-18) quickly answered in the bottom of the first, taking a 2-0 lead. With two outs and two runners in scoring position, Wiel drilled a two-run double off the top of the wall in left field to score Alex Perez and LaMonte Wade. That hit gave Wiel a career-best 10-game hit streak while Wade, who drew a walk in the inning, reached safely for the 23rd game in a row.
Sean Miller scored in the second inning to boost Cedar Rapids to a 3-1 lead. Miller hit a single early in the inning and later came home during an RBI force out off the bat of Alex Perez.
In the fifth, J.J. Fernandez capped a two-out rally by hitting an RBI single. A single, a walk and an error loaded the bases with two outs in the frame, and Fernandez drove in A.J. Murray and Wiel to give the Kernels a 5-1 advantage.
Cedar Rapids stretched their lead to 8-1 as Sunday's game wound down. In another two-out rally during the seventh inning, Nelson Molina knocked in Miller with an RBI single. Molina scored when Perez split the gap for an RBI triple to right-center field. Wiel then launched a deep solo home run to left field in the eighth inning for his first round-tripper as a Kernel.
Nordgren improved to 2-1 as the winning pitcher while Quad Cities right-hander Yoanys Quiala took the loss and fell to 0-1 after allowing five runs - three earned - in 4.2 innings pitched. Kernels southpaw Michael Theofanopoulos followed Nordgren and tossed two perfect frames to stretch his scoreless streak to 18.2 consecutive innings with no runs allowed.
The finale of this four-game series is set for 12:05 p.m. Monday afternoon. Cedar Rapids right-hander Cody Stashak (2-3, 2.41 ERA) will face Quad Cities right-hander Chris Murphy (3-3, 3.62 ERA). Catch all of the action with Morgan Hawk and Chris Kleinhans-Schulz online at www.kmryradio.com, www.kernels.com and MiLB.TV.
Monday's contest is a Noon Game, presented by 104.5 KDAT. For just $8.50, fans can purchase the Noon Game Combo Special and receive a regular sandwich (hamburger, cheeseburger, hot dog or bat), a choice of chips or popcorn, plus a 16 oz. regular draft beer or 20 oz. bottled soda or water. Also, regular hot dogs are only $1.50 and small popcorn, ice cream sandwiches and chips are just $1 each on the latest Mark Down Monday.
Tickets for all Kernels home games and the 2016 Midwest League All-Star Game 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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