Sports stats



MWL1 Cedar Rapids Kernels

Infante powers sluggish offense past LumberKings

May 29, 2006 - 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.

Check out the Cedar Rapids Kernels Statistics



Midwest League Stories from May 29, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central