MWL1 Cedar Rapids Kernels

Kernels fall to Wisconsin, 10-9

Published on July 4, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Kernels led the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for the majority of the Independence Day ball game, but a 6-run Wisconsin (51-31, 7-6) eighth inning via three home runs doomed the Kernels in a 10-9 loss.

Cedar Rapids (35-48, 3-10) led 7-4 at the start of the inning, but the Timber Rattlers loaded the bases with no outs after a single, a walk, and a hit batter. A grand slam then gave Wisconsin the lead off the bat off Chadwin Stang. Two hitters later, Mitch Haniger hit a double, and he scored on a long home run by Nick Ramirez that gave Wisconsin a 10-7 advantage.

The tough inning erased an otherwise solid all-around game by the Kernels offense and starting pitcher. After falling behind 1-0 in the second inning - Wisconsin's Ben McMahan scored from third base on a 0-out double play - the Kernels scored 4 runs in the bottom half of the frame to take the lead sparked by an ejection.

A called strike three put Frazier Hall out of the batters box, the first pitch to Gary Mitchell also seemed low to Kernels manager Jamie Burke. A vehement discussion lead to Burke's dismissal, but it sparked a Cedar Rapids rally. Mitchell subsequently walked, as did the next hitter Zach Wright. Then Zach Borenstein ripped a groundball that went through the legs of Timber Rattlers first baseman Nick Ramirez. Mitchell would score on the error. Wright came home on the next at-bat when Trevor Hairgrove singled and moved Borenstein to third base. Kevin Moesquit pushed the finishing runs of the frame across home plate with a 2-RBI double.

A larger lead came with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Alex Yarbrough singled before moving to third on a Frazier Hall single, followed by a Mitchell RBI single - his 31st of the year - to score Yarbrough. Chevy Clarke added another with an RBI opposite-field double with two outs in the bottom of the sixth that scored Moesquit.

The Timber Rattlers kept it close scoring two runs in the sixth (cutting the score to 5-3), then scoring again in the seventh to again reduce the lead to two. But Cedar Rapids kept tallying more runs, adding another in the bottom of the seventh when Borenstein had an RBI fielder's choice where Hall scored from third base to give the home team a 7-4 lead before the 8th inning collapse.

A 2-out, 2-run home run in the 9th by Zach Wright, his 5th long ball in 11 games played, brought the game to its final tally of 10-9. Dan Reynolds had a stellar start for Cedar Rapids pitching 5.0 innings while striking out a season-high six hitters and allowing just one run on five hits. Logan Odom, Shane Riedie, R.J. Alvarez, and Joe Melioris combined to finish the game out of the bullpen for the Kernels.

Alvarez (0-1) took his first decision of the season in the loss, while Wisconsin's Stephen Peterson (2-1) earned the victory. Timber Rattlers reliever Tommy Toledo (5) got the save.

The Kernels continue the series with Wisconsin on Thursday evening at 6:35 p.m. It's another Thirsty Thursday so come enjoy 12 oz. domestic draft beer for only $1.50 and $2.00 bottles of soda and water! It's also '80's Night! Come dressed in your favorite clothing from the 1980's! The Kernels will also recognize all the players and families from the League of Dreams prior to the game. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.

Get your tickets now! Tickets are available online at www.kernels.com or by calling the Kernels box office at 896-7605. Ticket office hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Morgan Hawk brings you the live action on the radio home of Kernels baseball, KMRY. Listen at 1450 AM or 93.1 FM, as well as www.kernels.com and www.kmryradio.com .

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Midwest League Stories from July 4, 2012


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