MWL1 Cedar Rapids Kernels

Green goes the distance in Kernel victory

Published on August 16, 2005 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


Nick Green pitched the full nine innings and carried a shutout into the final frame before surrendering a solo home run as the Kernels defeated Southwest Michigan 5-1 at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Tuesday night.

Green limited the Devil Rays to just six hits while striking out six to pick up his third win of the year and his second as a starter. The right-handed hurler from Tifton, GA, took the hill in the top of the ninth looking for his first professional shutout but was denied the satisfaction when leadoff man Fernando Perez stroked a pitch into the Mix 96/Whirling Waters Home Run hot tub in left field. Green recovered and retired three of the next four men, getting Shaun Cumberland to ground to first to end the game.

Highlighting the night for Green was the fifth inning when the lanky righty struck out Cumberland and Patrick Breen swinging before getting Travis Schlichting looking to retire the side on strikes.

Alexi Casilla was 3-for-4 with three runs scored. His ground ball single to left in the third set the table for what proved to be the game-winning run. After reaching base the speedster promptly swiped second base. After a strikeout by Southwest Michigan starter Brandon Mann, Casilla grabbed third as well and scored when third baseman Travis Schlichting was called for obstruction.

Casilla also scored the game's first run in the first after leading off the home half of the frame with a single. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sean Rodriguez and scored on a liner by Freddy Sandoval.

Casilla scored his final run of the night in the seventh when he again led off the inning with a single. After stealing second with one out for his 45th stolen bag of the year, Sandoval and Michael Collins drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Josh LeBlanc then plated Casilla with a grounder to second.

The Kernels added two more runs in the fourth inning on a base hit by Richard Giannotti and a double steal attempt by Giannotti and Warner Madrigal. With one out and runners on the corners, Madrigal took off for second base. Catcher Alex Jamieson threw to second and Giannotti immediately broke for home. Patrick Cottrell's throw was high and off the mark as Giannotti slid in safely and Madrigal took third on the throwing error.

Mann took the loss for Southwest Michigan, allowing four runs over five innings and striking out four while walking three. Ryan Bitter and Lavelle Morgan combined to limit the Kernels to just one run and two hits over the game's final three innings.

Both teams managed just six hits as the Kernels evened the four game series at one game apiece. The two teams meet again Wednesday evening for game three with a scheduled start time of 7 p.m. Ronnie Ray (4-2, 3.38) is scheduled to face off against Southwest Michigan's Matt Larson (4-3, 3.53).

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Midwest League Stories from August 16, 2005


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