Kalmer, Cubs Walk-Off Kernels 3-2
Published on August 19, 2025 under Midwest League (MWL)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release
South Bend, IN - Brian Kalmer broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the ninth inning with a sacrifice fly to right field to walk off the Kernels 3-2 in the series opener Tuesday night.
Amid a playoff chase, South Bend opened the scoring in the bottom half of the first inning. Leonel Espinoza led off the frame with a single, then after an Edgar Alverez base hit, runners were on the corners with no one out. A batter later, Espinoza came into score on a double play to put the Cubs on top 1-0.
The Kernels rallied back in the middle innings. With two outs in the fourth, Caden Kendle singled. After a wild pitch moved him into scoring position, he scored on an error to tie the game at 1-1.
In the fifth, Marek Houston legged out on an infield single for his first high-A hit. Houston then stole second and scored two batters later on an Eduaro Tait RBI single to put Cedar Rapids on top 2-1.
South Bend responded in the sixth. Alvarez drew a walk to open the inning, then scored from first on an Ariel Armas double to even the tally at 2-2.
Those two runs were it against Cedar Rapids starter Ty Langenberg. The reigning Midwest League Pitcher of the Week went a career-long seven innings for the second consecutive start, allowing two runs on five hits with six strikeouts in his third straight quality start.
After a pair of scoreless innings, it stayed 2-2 going to the bottom of the ninth. A pair of walks to Armas and Kade Snell put two on, and a sac bunt moved them both into scoring position for Brian Kalmer, who lined a sacrifice fly to right to plate the game-winning run to walk off the Kernels 3-2.
The loss drops the Kernels to 24-25 in the second half of the season and to 7-6 on the season against South Bend. Game two in the series with the Cubs is set for Wednesday at 6:05 with Jacob Kisting on the mound for the Kernels opposite Kevin Valdez.
Midwest League Stories from August 19, 2025
- River Bandits' Figueroa Homers Twice, Quad Cities Beats Great Lakes 13-4 - Great Lakes Loons
- Dragons Explode for 14 Runs, 16 Hits in Win over Peoria in Dayton - Dayton Dragons
- All-Around Performance Keys Carp 5-0 Win - Beloit Sky Carp
- Kalmer, Cubs Walk-Off Kernels 3-2 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Beloit Shuts Out Wisconsin - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Leary Homers in 6-1 Loss at West Michigan - Lansing Lugnuts
- Cubs Walk off Kernels 3-2 on Kalmer's Sacrifice Fly - South Bend Cubs
- Elissalt Deals, 'Caps Win 6-1 - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Game 1 of TinCaps-Captains Series Postponed Due to Rain - Lake County Captains
- TinCaps Transactions & Game Information: August 19 at Lake County Captains (Guardians Affiliate) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Dayton Dragons GameDay Notes for Tuesday (7:05 vs Peoria) - Dayton Dragons
- Chiefs to Celebrate Pete Vonachen Day on August 31 - Peoria Chiefs
- Gabe Rodriguez's Home Run for Life - South Bend Cubs
- Houghton Transferred to AA Wichita, Houston Transferred from A Fort Myers, Bengard Activated from 60-Day IL, Doncon Activated from Temporarily Inactive List - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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.
