Kernels Mash Six Homers for Fifth Straight Win

June 8, 2022 - Midwest League (MWL)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release

South Bend, IN - The Cedar Rapids Kernels bashed a season-high six home runs in a 12-5 rout of the South Bend Cubs on Wednesday evening, earning their fifth-straight win. Christian Encarnacion-Strand homered twice while Charles Mack, Seth Gray, Jeferson Morales and Dylan Neuse each went yard once. Cedar Rapids improves their mark to a season-best 17 games over .500 at 35-18 and now stands four games up in the West Division standings.

Encarnacion-Strand wasted no time getting Cedar Rapids on the board in the first, obliterating a solo shot off the tiki bar in left field. Aaron Sabato drew a walk, then two batters later Gray belted a two-run shot out to right for a 3-0 lead.

The Kernels used a similar script in the second as Neuse clobbered a two-out solo home run to deep left-center followed by an Alerick Soularie walk and another Encarnacion-Strand bomb.

Leading 6-2 entering the fifth, Gray walked then Morales was hit by a pitch with two down. Wander Javier singled home Gray to chase the Cubs' pitcher. Mack welcomed the new reliever into the game with a towering three-run blast off the video board in right-center.

Cody Laweryson earned the win in relief, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings of three-hit ball while striking out two.

Cedar Rapids plated their final two runs on a Morales two-run shot in the seventh. A massive momentum swing was averted in the eighth as Orlando Rodriguez entered with the bases loaded and nobody out, promptly striking out the side to leave them full.

Game three of the series is set for 7:05 p.m. ET on Thursday in South Bend.

To keep up to date on information regarding the Kernels 2022 season please visit www.kernels.com or follow our Facebook and Twitter feeds and subscribe to our Kernels email newsletter.

Midwest League Stories from June 8, 2022

• Cubs Outslugged 12-5 in 8-Homer Game - South Bend Cubs
• River Bandits Ride Early Offensive Wave, Beat Chiefs 9-0 - Peoria Chiefs
• Gasser Pitches a Gem Against Lake County - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Kernels Mash Six Homers for Fifth Straight Win - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Wisconsin Drops Pitchers' Duel to Beloit - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Sky Carp Stay Hot with Shutout Win - Beloit Sky Carp
• Great Lakes and Dayton Rained out Wednesday - Great Lakes Loons
• Dragons Postponed on Wednesday - Dayton Dragons
• Aw, Nuts - 'Caps and Lugs Postponed - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Lugnuts/Whitecaps Postponed, Game to be Made up with Friday Twinbill - Lansing Lugnuts
• TinCaps Game Information: June 8 vs. Lake County - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Kennie Taylor Promoted to Wichita - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Dayton Dragons GameDay Notes - Dayton Dragons
• Blood Drive at Parkview Field on June 14 with American Red Cross - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Dock Spiders, Green & Gold Softball, WIAA Tournament happening during Rattlers road trip - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

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