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MWL1 Cedar Rapids Kernels

Kernels remain hot with 15-9 pounding of Swing

August 31, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


August 31, 2005 - An 11-run fifth inning proved to be the difference maker for the Kernels on Wednesday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium as the Kernels defeated the Swing of the Quad Cities 15-9 to keep their playoff hopes alive and well.

The Kernels win over the Swing, coupled with victories by Wisconsin and Kane County and a Beloit loss, leaves Cedar Rapids three games behind Wisconsin for first place and just one game behind Kane County for the final playoff spot in the Western Division. There are just five regular season games remaining in the season.

Every member of the Kernels starting lineup had at least one hit and scored at least one run as the home team wowed a crowd of 3,020 people by pounding out 16 hits - including a season-high eight doubles.

The key blow came when the Kernels popped for an 11-run fifth inning which saw the Swing use three pitchers as Cedar Rapids sent 14 men to the plate. With one out, Nate Sutton started the monstrous inning by ripping a double off Quad City starter Matt Scherer. Michael Collins was hit by a Scherer pitch and then Drew Toussaint boomed a double to deep center to clear the bases. Quad City the called on reliever Michael Gross who promptly walked Freddy Sandoval. Jordan Renz then reached on a fielder's choice with Sandoval out at second and Toussaint scoring on a throwing error by shortstop Matt Shepherd while trying to turn a double play. The botched throw proved costly as Josh LeBlanc smoked a double to left to plate Renz. LeBlanc moved to third on the throw home that was dropped by catcher Cody Palmer. LeBlanc scored on a single by Richard Giannotti, who scored after stealing second when Chris Walston shot a single to center prompting another call to the pen.

Swing reliever Tyler Adamczyk then walked Sean Rodriguez before a single by Sutton loaded the bases for Collins who promptly cleared them with a double to right. Toussaint then blasted his 20th home run of the year on a towering shot to left center.

Quad City actually led the game 3-1 prior to the inning as the Kernels managed just an RBI single by Renz in the fourth before finally breaking through the following frame.

The Kernels added a single run in the sixth and two in the seventh which helped offset a five-run seventh by the Swing which saw Cedar Rapids reliever Chris Waters allow all five runs on two hits without recording an out before Michel Simard came in to stave off any further damage. Simard gave up back-to-back singles before getting a key double play and striking out Palmer to end the inning.

With every Kernel getting a hit there were plenty of offensive stars but no one had a better line than Collins who was 3-for-3 with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored, raising his average to .324 and leaving him just 9 points shy of league batting leader Eric Patterson's average .333 average.

Toussaint was 2-for-4 with 4 RBI and 3 runs scored and Renz was 2-for-5 with 3 RBI.

Lost in the offensive outburst was the solid outing of starter Karl Gelinas, who improved to 10-8 on the year with six innings of nine-hit ball. He allowed just three runs, two earned, while walking one and striking out two. Scherer took the loss for the Swing, falling to 9-8 on the year.

Fans are reminded that since the Kernels scored more than 10 runs at home, area Taco Bell restaurants will be selling beef tacos for just 39 cents all day on Thursday as part of the Taco Bell ‘Ten Spot' promotion.

The Kernels will host the Swing Thursday night at 7 p.m. for the final regular season home game of the season. Gates open at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. contest.

Check out the Cedar Rapids Kernels Statistics



Midwest League Stories from August 31, 2005


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