MWL1 Cedar Rapids Kernels

Celestino's Solo Shot Not Enough at Clinton

June 5, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


CLINTON, IOWA - Gilberto Celestino hit a first-inning home run Wednesday that pushed the Cedar Rapids Kernels to an early lead at NelsonCorp Field, but the Clinton LumberKings evened this three-game series with a 2-1 victory. Cedar Rapids (29-29) will play Clinton (29-28) in the rubber game Thursday to wrap up the third leg out of four series in a 14-game road swing.

Celestino batted 2-of-4 with a season-high two extra-base hits. He gave the Kernels a 1-0 advantage by belting a solo shot to left-center field in the opening stanza, and he added a double during the third inning.

Back-to-back RBI singles within the bottom of the fourth inning put Clinton ahead, 2-1. Jerar Encarnacion produced a one-out single, and J.D. Osborne reached safely when he was hit by a pitch. Bubba Hollins singled to drive in Encarnacion, and Connor Grant followed with a single of his own that plated Osborne.

Tanner Andrews (1-2) and Jake Walters combined to retire 25 of the final 27 batters faced to lock down a one-run win. Andrews allowed a run over five innings pitched for his first victory this season. Walters tossed a career-high-tying eight strikeouts and earned his first professional save.

Austin Schulfer (4-3) notched a team-high six strikeouts in five frames but was charged with a loss. Schulfer has tallied 59 strikeouts this year in just 41.2 innings pitched.

Thursday's series finale between Cedar Rapids and Clinton is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and Kernels southpaw Kody Funderburk (0-0, 0.00) will face LumberKings right-hander Humberto Mejia (5-0, 2.29). Broadcast coverage with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz can be heard on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY and also online at www.kmryradio.com and www.kernels.com.

The final Kernels homestand in the first half of the 2019 season begins June 11 and runs through June 16. Fans can purchase tickets for all Cedar Rapids Kernels home games by visiting www.kernels.com, going to the Kernels Ticket Office, or 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. On Sundays when the Kernels have a home game, the Kernels Ticket Office will open at 11:00 a.m.

Check out the Cedar Rapids Kernels Statistics



Midwest League Stories from June 5, 2019


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