MWL1 Cedar Rapids Kernels

Clinton Surges Past Cedar Rapids, 4-3

Published on May 28, 2018 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - The Cedar Rapids Kernels were one out away from victory Monday at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium, but the Clinton LumberKings scored an unearned run in the ninth inning and plated the go-ahead run in the 10th for a 4-3 win. The LumberKings (28-22) won this six-game series, 4-2, over the Kernels (23-25).

Clinton needed two-out magic in the ninth to force a third extra-inning game in a row. Louis Boyd extended the contest with a single and reached third base on a single from Ryan Scott. A passed ball allowed Boyd to score and tie the game at 3-3.

The LumberKings scored without the benefit of a hit and later kept the Kernels scoreless within the 10th inning. Billy Cooke's sacrifice bunt moved Joseph Rosa to third, and a broken-bat sacrifice fly from Jack Larsen drove in Rosa for a 4-3 lead. Cedar Rapids had the potential game-tying and go-ahead runs aboard in its half of the inning before a groundout ended the contest.

Shane Carrier provided a 3-2 Kernels lead in the sixth that held until the top of the ninth. Jose Miranda led off the sixth with a single, and Alex Kirilloff reached on an error. Carrier singled to drive in both runners and give Cedar Rapids its first lead.

Kirilloff delivered Cedar Rapids' first offense with his team-high eighth home run. The Kernels trailed, 1-0, within the fourth when Kirilloff drove an opposite-field solo shot to left-center field that tied the game.

Eugene Helder was responsible for Clinton's early runs Monday. Helder followed Ryan Costello's one-out triple in the top of the second with a sacrifice fly. During the fifth inning on a squeeze play, Helder broke for the plate and stole home on a missed bunt attempt by Boyd that put Clinton ahead, 2-1, at the time.

Scott Boches (1-0) pitched three shutout innings for the victory before Collin Kober notched his first LumberKings save with a scoreless bottom of the 10th. Carlos Suniaga (2-2) gave up two unearned runs and was charged with a blown save and a loss. Jordan Balazovic tossed 3.2 scoreless and hitless innings of relief in his Kernels debut but was knocked out of a potential winning decision when Cedar Rapids lost the lead in the ninth.

Up next, Cedar Rapids hosts the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for a three-game series. Tuesday's opener is slated for 6:35 p.m., and the scheduled starters are Kernels right-hander Bailey Ober (1-1, 7.84) and Timber Rattlers right-hander Alec Bettinger (4-3, 3.86). Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will call the contest Tuesday on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com, www.kernels.com, and MiLB.TV.

Bark in the Park Night invites fans to bring their dog to the game with the purchase of a special doggie lawn ticket. Proceeds from the doggie tickets will benefit Gems Forever and Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids. Great Clips Twins Tuesday features a 2-for-1 ticket offer available on the Kernels' Facebook page or email newsletter. The Kernels will wear special jerseys Tuesday that will be auctioned off later this season, and one lucky fan at the contest will win a pair of Minnesota Twins tickets.

Fans can purchase tickets for all Cedar Rapids home games by visiting www.kernels.com, going to the Kernels Ticket Office, or calling (319) 896-7560. The Kernels Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 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

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Midwest League Stories from May 28, 2018


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