MWL1 Cedar Rapids Kernels

Kernels come back for win over Snappers

Published on July 22, 2005 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


The Kernels scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and got three scoreless innings of relief from Jesse Smith and Mitch Arnold to take a 6-5 victory over the Beloit Snappers in front of 2,947 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

After Beloit took a 5-4 lead in the top of the frame the Kernels went to work immediately as Alexi Casilla singled up the middle before stealing second base. Sean Rodriguez flew out to center for the first out of the inning but that deep smack allowed Casilla to tag and move to third. Michael Collins wasted no time in ripping an RBI double to left to score Casilla. Collins scored right away when Drew Toussaint cracked a single through the box and into center.

Those three runs proved to be enough for the Kernels as Smith pitched the seventh and eighth innings before giving way to Arnold. Arnold worked a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his first save for the Kernels since April 16th.

Starter Fernando Rogriguez earned the victory for the Kernels after tossing six solid innings of six-hit ball. He surrendered five runs but only two were earned as errors proved problematic for the Kernels on Friday night. The home team committed four errors in the victory.

After the Snappers struck first for two runs in the third inning on a two-run triple by Deacon Burns, the Kernels put four runs on the board in the fourth to take the lead. Collins began the inning with a sharp single to third that would have been a base hit either way you sliced it but he got a bonus base when David Winfree's throw to first sailed off target. With Collins on second Josh LeBlanc laced a single to short that moved Collins to third. LeBlanc eventually stole second before Warner Madrigal's ground out to short plated Collins and moved him to third. Jordan Renz kept the inning and the scoring going with a soft liner to left that brought home LeBlanc. That set the table for Chris Walston, who hammered a Kyle Waldrop offering high into the Cedar Rapids sky toward left field. At first glance the ball appeared to be an RBI double off the wall but base umpire David Warren ruled the ball a homer. Replays would prove Warren absolutely correct as the ball hit the top of the Randy Kuehl Honfidence Pavilion and shot upward.

The Kernel lead was short-lived as the Snappers struck for three runs in the next inning after a two-out throwing error by Fernando Rodriguez opened the door for a comeback. Rodriguez fielded a sharply hit ball by Jeremy Pickrel and executed a proper step-and-throw technique to first but the throw was off target and put Pickrel on board and allowed Winfree to move to third and Tarrance Patterson to score. Both runners scored when the very next batter, Chris Brown, stroked a soft liner to center.

Waldrop took the loss for the Snappers as the former Twins first-round pick struggled through 4 1/3 innings of work, allowing 10 hits and six runs (all earned) while striking out just three and walking one.

There were plenty of offensive stars for the Kernels but no one had a night like LeBlanc, who was a perfect 3-for-3 when the Snappers opted to intentionally walk him in the seventh inning. Casilla (2-for-4) and Collins (2-for-4) also had multiple hit games for the Kernels, who improved to 13-15 in the second half.

The Kernels and Snappers square off again on Saturday night for what should be the biggest night of the year at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Blues Brothers are scheduled to entertain the crowd during the game, while fireworks sponsored by Commercial Federal Bank will keep the crowd entertained afterward. Francisco Cordova is scheduled to start for the Kernels at 7 p.m. He'll face Minnesota's No. 1 draft pick from the 2005 draft, Matt Garza. Gates open at 6 p.m. and fans are advised to purchase tickets in advance by calling the Kernels box office at 896-7560 to ensure they get the best seats available for what could be the team's first sellout of the year.

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Midwest League Stories from July 22, 2005


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