MWL1 Cedar Rapids Kernels

Cougars Rally Past Kernels, 8-3

Published on July 10, 2015 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


GENEVA, Ill. - The Kane County rallied from behind to defeat the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 8-3, in the series opener. The Cougars plated seven runs in the final four innings to secure the win.

Cedar Rapids took a 1-0 lead with a two out run in the top of the first. An Edgar Corcino two-out walk followed by Zack Larson getting hit in the shoulder gave the Kernels runners on first and second. Max Murphy put the Kernels in front of the Cougars, 1-0, with an RBI single to center, plating Corcino from second.

The Kernels extended their lead to 2-0 with an unearned run in the top of the fifth. Tanner English reached on a two-out single to right. Rafael Valera followed with a single to right, advancing English to third, however, a Cougars throwing error allowed English to come in to score.

Kane County cut the Cedar Rapids lead to 2-1 with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Colin Bray led off the frame with a triple in to the right field corner. Michael Perez followed Bray with an RBI groundout to second, scoring Bray from third for the first Cougars run of the night.

Cedar Rapids (51-35, 10-6) went back up by two with another unearned run in the top of the sixth. Murphy started the inning with a one-out infield single off the third base bag. Two batters later, Jorge Fernandez singled to right, advancing Murphy to third. Brian Navarreto then reached on a Cougars fielding error. The error also allowed Murphy to come in to score and moved Fernandez to second.

Kane County (50-34, 14-2) took their first lead of the night with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Chuck Taylor led off the inning with a single to left. Two batters later, Cody Regis singled to left-center, giving Kane County runners on first and second with one out. Marty Herum then reached on a fielder's choice, giving the Cougars runners on the corners with two outs. A Zack Tillery wild pitch advanced Herum to second with Bray batting. Bray then drew a walk, loading the bases full of Cougars. Perez cut the Kernels lead to one with an RBI infield single, scoring Taylor. However, a Kernels throwing error allowed Herum to score and advanced Bray to third, tying the game, 3-3. Henry Castillo gave the Cougars their first lead of the night with an RBI single to left, plating Bray from second. Joe Munoz then drew a walk, loading the bases full of Cougars for the second time in the inning. A Michael Theofanopoulos wild pitch brought in Perez from third, extending the Kane County lead to 5-3.

The Cougars extended their lead to 7-3 with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Back-to-back walks by Taylor and Illdemaro Vargas gave Kane County runners on first and second with no outs. Regis put the Cougars up by three with an RBI single to left, scoring Taylor from second. Two hitters later, Bray brought in Regis with a two-out RBI triple in to the right field corner.

Kane County went up 8-3 with a run in the bottom of the eighth. Castillo led off the inning with a single to right. A Jared Wilson wild pitch moved Castillo to second. Two batters later, Taylor plated Castillo with a two-out RBI single to right.

Ethan Elias (9-3) earned the win for Kane County. The right-hander yielded three runs (one earned) on seven hits, one walk and a hit batsmen while striking out three in six innings.

Nick Baker (7) recorded the hold for the Cougars. Baker yielded one hit and struck out three in two scoreless innings of relief.

Tillery (5-4) suffered the loss for Cedar Rapids. The right-hander allowed four runs on six hits and a walk while striking out a pair in 5 2/3 innings.

Theofanopoulos and Wilson each allowed two runs in relief. Theofanopoulos allowed two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out one in a 1/3 of an inning. Wilson allowed two runs on four hits.

Murphy, English and Valera each finished with two hits for Cedar Rapids. . Murphy went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run while English finished 2-for-4 with a run and a stolen base. Valera finished 2-for-4 on the evening.

The Kernels continue the four-game series tomorrow evening vs. Kane County, the Midwest League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. First pitch on Friday from Fifth Third Bank Ballpark is at 6:30 p.m. LHP Randy Rosario (0-0, 0.00) gets the start for the Kernels while RHP Brad Keller (4-7, 2.63) counters for the Cougars.

The Kernels return home for a three-game series on Wednesday, July 15th, v. the Burlington Bees. Wednesday's game is a Free Money Wednesday presented by Western Fraternal Life. Western Fraternal Life will give away $500 at the main gates at every Wednesday home game with $100 as the top cash prize. Wednesday's game is also Hall of Fame Night. The Kernels welcome the Cedar Rapids Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2015 and will recognize them before the game, along with members of past Cedar Rapids teams.

Tickets are available online at www.kernels.com. You can also visit the Kernels Ticket Office at Veterans Memorial Stadium or call 319-896-7560. Morgan Hawk brings you the action of all Kernels games live on KMRY Radio (93.1 FM/1450 AM) and online at www.kernels.com.

Check out the Cedar Rapids Kernels Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from July 10, 2015


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