MWL1 Cedar Rapids Kernels

Cedar Rapids Falls Short in Ninth Inning Rally

August 8, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - The Kernels rallied for three runs in the ninth in a 6-5 comeback effort loss to Kane County on Friday night. For the second night in a row trailing the Cougars in the late innings, Cedar Rapids staged a rally, but the four-run deficit entering the ninth proved to be too much in the series-evening loss. Joe Mauer collected three hits in the rehab start for the Kernels, including an RBI single in the ninth, while teammate Mitch Garver kept the game alive in the final inning with a double to the wall in right that scored a pair. Max Murphy scored a run and extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a double and a single on the night.

The Cougars wasted no time in the first inning, scoring the first three men that came to the plate. Shawon Dunston, Jr. and Chesny Young led off the frame with back-to-back singles before Victor Caratini walked with no outs to load the bases. Jacob Rogers then cleared the bases with a deep double to the wall in left-center field to give Kane County a 3-0 lead.

Cedar Rapids responded in the bottom of the second with a pair of runs driven in sacrifice flies by Michael Quesada and Chad Christensen. Max Murphy opened the frame with a double down the line in left and scored on Quesada's one out drive to right field. Logan Wade singled for the inning's second hit and made it 3-2 on Christensen's run-scoring fly out to deep center field. Kernels Manager Jake Mauer was ejected during the next at-bat with two down, and brother, Joe Mauer, singled into left immediately after for the frame's fourth and final hit.

Jonathan Martinez exited after four innings as the Cougars' starter and took the no-decision. Martinez allowed two runs on six hits and walked one in his second start for Kane County. Michael Wagner (3-2) took over in the fourth and shut down the Kernels for four scoreless innings where he allowed a pair of hits to pick up the victory.

Stephen Gonsalves (1-2) settled in after the three-run first, but took the loss over four innings where he surrendered three runs on five hits along with five strikeouts. Chris Mazza came to the mound next for Cedar Rapids and allowed two runs in the sixth inning during his two-frame tenure.

Daniel Lockhart's two-run double with down in the sixth allowed the Cougars to increase their advantage to 5-2. Rogers and Cael Brockmeyer singled to begin the frame and scored on Lockhart's RBI double to left-center.

The Kernels went to their bullpen again in the seventh and tabbed Hudson Boyd to take the hill. Boyd allowed one run in the eighth inning over his two frames on the mound where he gave up two hits and struck out two hitters.

Kane County added an essential insurance run in the eighth that began with a Victor Caratini double down the left field line. Brockmeyer struck again two batters later with an opposite-field single to plate Caratini for the 6-2 lead.

Cedar Rapids rallied back in the ninth for three runs on three hits, a walk and two hit batsmen. Michael Quesada led off the comeback effort with a single up the middle and moved to second base when Engelb Vielma was struck by a pitch. Joe Mauer then tallied his third hit of night with an RBI single into right field that scored Quesada to make it 6-3. Mitch Garver next struck a double to the wall in right to bring in Mauer and Vielma to make it a one-score game. After a pitching change, the Kernels left the bases load to end the game with the 6-5 loss.

Michael Heese entered in relief for the Cougars in the eighth and struggled in the ninth, recording one out and allowing all three runs and hits in the inning. A night after recording the loss in extra innings, Francisco Carrillo took the bump and recorded the final two outs via the strikeout to secure the 6-5 victory.

The Kernels and Cougars will begin game three of the series Saturday evening at 5:05 p.m. It's Jimmy Buffett Night! Break out the Hawaiian shirts and flip flops as the Kernels celebrate Jimmy Buffett Night where the Kernels will wear special Hawaiian jerseys that will be sold during the game via a silent auction. Fans can also enjoy the music of the Compass Rose Band as part of Jimmy Buffett Night following the Kernels game with Kane County. The post-game festivities also include a Post-Game FIREWORKS show at dusk following the concert. LHP Lewis Thorpe gets the nod for the Kernels while the Cougars will send LHP Tyler Ihrig to the mound in game three. Tickets are available at www.kernels.com. You can also visit the Kernels Ticket Office at Veterans Memorial Stadium or call 319-896-7560. Kernels' games are broadcast live on KMRY Radio (93.1 FM/1450 AM) and streamed online at www.kernels.com.

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Midwest League Stories from August 8, 2014


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