Infante powers sluggish offense past LumberKings

Published on May 29, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release

The Kernels (23-28) managed just three hits against the Clinton LumberKings (18-32) on Monday afternoon at Alliant Energy, but one was a two-run homer by Larry Infante that provided all the offense the Kernels would need in a 2-1 victory.

Andy Hill (1-0) earned the victory for the Kernels in his 2006 debut, holding Clinton to four hits over six innings while also keeping the LumberKings off the scoreboard. Hill, who joined the Kernels last week from extended spring training, struck out three while waking two and kept Clinton hitters off balance with a blend of breaking balls and heat.

As has been the case with the Kernels this year, nothing has come easy even in victory. Clinton managed to load the bases off closer Ryan Aldridge in the bottom of the ninth before Kernels skipper Bobby Magallanes called in Chris Howell to douse the LumberKings rally. Howell surrendered a sacrifice fly to Matt Smith but got Jose Vallejo to ground out to second to end the game. Howell's 2/3 of an inning qualified him for his first save of the season.

Clinton starter Juan Jimenez (1-1) suffered the loss despite holding an anemic Kernels offense to just two hits over his six innings of work. Both those hits came in the fifth inning when Stantrel Smith singled to lead off the inning. Smith was picked off first but catcher Flint Wipke was hit by a Jimenez and Infante popped a two-out offering off the very top of the right field wall for his first home run of the season.

Rafael Cruz and Brad Beck combined for two innings of one-hit, scoreless relief to keep the Kernels in the ballgame despite the offense's lack of production.

The Kernels will square off against the LumberKings again on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. Ace hurler Nick Adenhart (7-1) takes the hill to face Clinton's Omar Poveda (1-5) at Alliant Energy Field.

Midwest League Stories from May 29, 2006

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• Rattlers throw one away - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Cougars Slug Past Prior, Chiefs - Kane County Cougars
• Prior Pitches Two Innings, Takes Loss as Chiefs Fall 8-2 - Peoria Chiefs
• Snappers steal Memorial Day matinee - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Snappers Come From Behind For Third Straight Win - Beloit Sky Carp
• Lugnuts Toss Second Straight Shutout - Lansing Lugnuts
• Devil Rays get shut out - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
• Infante powers sluggish offense past LumberKings - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Late Rally Not Enough for LumberKings - Clinton LumberKings
• Whitecaps beat Dayton, 6-5; Roberson placed on DL - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Whitecaps Bullpen Cools Off Dragons - Dayton Dragons
• Win a car when the Kernels return home on June 2nd - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• It's not too late to'Learn the game from the Pros' - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Kernels tally early, hold on for 4-3 win - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Big Buddy Gets Big Boost; Holy Spirit Parish Donates $5,000 to Local Youth - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Hundley placed on DL, Steiner retires - Fort Wayne TinCaps

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