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MWL1 Cedar Rapids Kernels

Kernels quash late rally, win second straight, 6-4

May 20, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


The Kernels held off a late West Michigan rally to earn a 6-4 victory at Veterans Memorial Stadium Friday afternoon in front of the largest crowd of the season.

On an overcast day with temperatures in the low 60's, 3,565 people witnessed starter Karl Gelinas out duel one of the league's top starters and give his teammates eighth innings of shutout ball before giving way to the bullpen.

Gelinas improved to 2-1 after surrendering just six hits and one walk while striking out three Whitecaps to earn his second victory in his last three starts. Conversely, West Michigan starter Jair Jurrjens, who entered the game with the fourth best ERA in the league (1.54) and an unblemished 4-0 record, couldn't make it to the fourth inning.

Of course Gelinas got a lot of help from his teammates both at the plate and in the field. The Kernels extended their streak of error-free games to three and collected nine hits at the plate in improving to 16-25.

Sean Rodriguez's hit-and-run single in the bottom of the first put the Kernels on the board first and in the third Cedar Rapids added four more runs.

Newcomer Alexi Casilla led off the inning with a ground ball single to center before stealing second. Casilla advanced to third when West Michigan starter Jair Jurrjens was called for a balk. After Whitecap skipper Matt Walbeck was ejected for arguing the call, Rodriguez drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Casilla scored when Freddy Sandoval hit a fly ball double to center that also moved Rodriguez to third. Both runners scored when Aaron Peel lined a double to left. Peel eventually scored on a liner to left by catcher Michael Collins to give the Kernels a 5-0 lead.

Cedar Rapids added a valuable insurance run in the sixth when Richard Giannotti scored on a sinking liner to left by Rodriguez.

The Whitecaps rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth before manager Bobby Magallanes called on Nick Green to quell the uprising. Green earned his second save in as many days by getting Brooks Colvin to pop out to Rodriguez, but only after a wild pitch allowed a fourth Whitecap runner to score.

Casilla sparked the Kernels at the top of the order going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases. Rodriguez and Giannotti also had steals for the Kernels. Cedar Rapids is now tied with Clinton for the league lead with 54 thefts.

Cedar Rapids will look to win its third straight on Saturday when the two clubs continue their four game series at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Kernels will throw Fernando Rodriguez against West Michigan's Matt Righter with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m.

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