MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Clinton Squanders Lead, Kernels Win 5-2

Published on July 27, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Cedar Rapids, IA - The Clinton LumberKings continued to struggled against the Cedar Rapids Kernels, dropping the series opener in a 5-2 loss. With the defeat, Clinton fell to 3-8 against their division rival on the season.

The Kernels swept Clinton at Perfect Game Field in late May during the LumberKings' only previous trip to Cedar Rapids in 2013. This series started with much of the same, as Clinton took a 2-0 lead but saw the Kernels rally with five unanswered runs for the win.

Charles Kaalekahi came out of the gates strong, helping Clinton establish an early lead. The LumberKings opened the scoring when Taylor Ard came home on a throwing error by Max Kepler in the third. Ard then drove in the other LumberKings' run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

Kepler made up for his defensive mistake with his bat. The first baseman belted a solo home run off Kaalekahi in the fifth to halve the Clinton lead to 2-1.

In the seventh, Kaalekahi reached the end of the line. A leadoff walk to Kepler came back to haunt the right-hander as Tyler Grimes tied the game with an RBI double. The next batter, Jeremias Pineda, gave Cedar Rapids its first lead with a single to bring home Grimes.

The Kernels tacked on a pair of insurance runs off Blake Holovach in the eighth inning. Adam Brett Walker roped a wall-banging double to score Mike Gonzales. Kepler was at it again with an RBI single to make the score 5-2.

Kaalekahi suffered the loss to move to 4-3 on the season. The bullpen for Cedar Rapids shut down any LumberKings; comeback bid. Hudson Boyd and Brian Gilbert combined for three scoreless innings, allowing just one baserunner after the sixth. Boyd took home his third win, and Gilbert earned his first save of the season.

The LumberKings and Kernels continue three-game series with the middle game on Sunday afternoon. Clinton sends right-hander Victor Sanchez (2-4, 2.75) against Kernels' left-hander Mason Melotakis (8-3, 3.67). First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 PM CT at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

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Midwest League Stories from July 27, 2013


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