Kernels Rally Back to Knock Off 'Caps Again
Published on June 9, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - The West Michigan Whitecaps could not hold a 2-0 lead for the second straight night on Wednesday, falling to the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 5-2, on Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
After jumping out to another early advantage, West Michigan (23-36) managed just one hit after the third inning while Cedar Rapids (38-21) rallied for five unanswered runs to improve to a dominant 20-4 on their home turf.
The Whitecaps led 2-0 with ace Trevor Feeney on the mound before the Kernels reached the scoreboard in the fourth. Casey Haerther sent a liner to right that turned into a triple when Avisail Garcia failed to make a diving catch, and Jose Jimenez followed with a sacrifice fly to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
Two innings later, 'Caps starter Trevor Feeney issued his first walk of the game with two outs in the sixth. It turned out to be bad timing, as Jimenez followed by turning on a 1-1 pitch left up in the zone and cracking a two-run homer that put Cedar Rapids ahead by a 3-2 score.
The Kernels tacked on a pair of key insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. With runners at second and third, Casey Haerther lined the first pitch he saw up the middle for a two-run single that gave Cedar Rapids a 5-2 cushion.
Piggyback starter Tyler Kehrer (2-2) earned the win out of the Kernels bullpen, facing the minimum over three hitless innings of relief after Tyler Skaggs started and pitched the first five frames. Johnny Hellweg (7) worked around an infield single that led off the ninth for his seventh save in as many tries.
Feeney (6-4) suffered the loss for West Michigan, though he pitched better than his final line suggests. After carrying a shutout into the fourth and the lead into the sixth, Feeney was ultimately charged with five runs on nine hits over 7.1 innings of work.
The Whitecaps took their early lead in the top of the second inning. After reaching on a one-out single, Alexis Espinoza stole second and advanced to third when the catcher's throw skipped into center field. Michael Rockett followed with a grounder to the right side of a drawn-in infield that was stopped by a diving Jean Segura at second base, but the throw to the plate was not in time as Espinoza slid in for the game's first run. Rockett eventually came home to score on an infield single by Jamie Johnson with two outs in the frame.
The Whitecaps continue a six-game road trip to the Western Division with a 7:35 p.m. ET first pitch against the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Thursday, June 10. West Michigan sends all-star LHP Giovanni Soto (4-3, 1.99) to the mound for the finale of a three-game series against LHP Stephen Locke (1-0, 3.38) and the Kernels. Following the road trip, the 'Caps will be back at Fifth Third Ballpark for a three-game set against the Lake County Captains that starts on Tuesday, June 15, with an all-you-can-eat food package on a Fat Tuesday and Senior Night. Season, group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting whitecapsbaseball.com.
Midwest League Stories from June 9, 2010
- Fitzgerald Hustles Chiefs Past Lugnuts in 10 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Jose Jimenez Powers Kernels to 5-2 Win - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Loons Win Fourth Straight - Great Lakes Loons
- Bandits Drop Second Straight with Extra-Inning 7-6 Loss - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Chiefs Walk Off Lansing 2-1 in Ten Innings - Peoria Chiefs
- Diaz's Homer Lifts Silver Hawks in 10th - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Morales Powers Snappers over Dayton - Beloit Sky Carp
- Stanton Quality Again as Kings Sink Captains - Clinton LumberKings
- Dragons Doubled Up by Beloit, 8-4 - Dayton Dragons
- Bees Rally from Five Down to Drop Close Contest - Burlington Bees
- Cougars Can't Hold Lead in Game 2 - Kane County Cougars
- Rincon's Slam Leads TinCaps to 4-2 Win - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Kernels Rally Back to Knock Off 'Caps Again - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Wisconsin Gets The Split - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Thomas Homers, Drives In Six As Hot Rods Split Doubleheader - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Dragons Henry Rodriguez Selected for MWL All-Star Game - Dayton Dragons
- Snappers Send Four to All-Star Game - Beloit Sky Carp
- Hot Rods Speed By Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Dragons Gameday - Dayton Dragons
- Coach Kelly Night at the Cove - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Ticket Sales For Maroon 5 Concert To Begin Friday - Dayton Dragons
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
