MWL1 Cedar Rapids Kernels

Kernels get back into \'swing' of things with win over QC

Published on May 16, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


The Kernels (19-20) got timely hitting, solid defense, and strong pitching Tuesday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium as they defeated the Swing of the Quad Cities 7-2.

Starter Stephen Marek (4-1) turned in the club's 20th quality start of the year giving the Kernels seven innings of strong work. The Sealy, TX, native allowed just one earned run and struck out seven while surrendering five hits.

Cedar Rapids got all the offense it would need with a five run output in the second inning. Swing starter Kyle Sadlowski (2-1) began the inning by inadvertently drilling both Flint Wipke and Brett Martinez. Control problems continued for the right-hander as both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Marco Albano then plated Wipke with a soft fly to center. With the bases loaded Stantrel Smith gave the crowd of 1,289 something to cheer about with a bases clearing triple to right center that was nearly an inside-the-park home run. Smith scored on the play but was only credited with a three-bagger due to an error by second baseman Daniel Nelson on the transfer.

Marek ran into a little trouble in the third, but great defense by Brad Coon in center bailed the flame thrower out. After Nelson homered to lead off the inning, Colby Rasmus and Bryan Anderson hit back-to-back singles. With Marek seemingly on the ropes, slugger Randy Roth lifted a towering liner to right-center. Coon, who was shaded slightly to the left of center, raced down the ball and made a diving catch worthy of a SportsCenter highlight reel. Rasmus did tag and move to third on the play and eventually scored on a passed ball.

The Kernels added a pair of insurance runs with single tallies in the fourth and seventh innings on a sacrifice fly by Coon and a fielder's choice off the bat of Dallas Morris, respectively.

Reliever Tim Mattison closed the door on the Swing with two scoreless innings of relief work, highlighted by a pair of punchouts.

The Kernels managed just seven hits, with three of those coming off the bat of Albano as he raised his season average to .263. Smith was 2-for-4 with a game-high three RBI. One bat that didn't make much noise was that of slugging outfielder Jordan Renz. Renz was 0-for-4 just one night after belting three homers and tying a league record with 10 RBI.

Check out the Cedar Rapids Kernels Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from May 16, 2006


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