MWL1 Cedar Rapids Kernels

Kernels Start Season 2-0 with 6-4 Win

Published on April 10, 2015 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


GENEVA, Ill. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels won their second straight contest with a 6-4 win over the Kane County Cougars on Friday night at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

John Curtiss (1-0) picked up his first win of the 2015 season. Curtiss allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits and a hit batter while striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings pitched.

Southpaw Jared Miller (0-1) suffered the loss for the Cougars. Miller allowed five runs on seven hits, two walks and a hit batter while striking out three in three innings.

The Kernels (2-0) took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a pair of RBI doubles. Zack Larson drove in the first run of the night on an RBI double to right-center, scoring Nick Gordon from second base. Two hitters later, J.J. Fernandez delivered a two-out, RBI double off the left field wall, bringing in Larson from second base.

Kane County (0-2) quickly answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first, taking a 3-2 lead. Stryker Trahan's two-out, three-run home run to right-center gave the Cougars their first lead and first home run of the 2015 season.

The Cougars lead didn't hold for the long as the Kernels added a pair of runs in the top of the second, taking a 4-3 lead. Jonatan Hinojosa led off the second with a walk and advanced to second on a Brian Navarreto single to left. Two batters later, Nick Gordon delivered the game tying run on a one-out, RBI single to center, scoring Hinojosa from third. Larson gave the Kernels their second lead of the night with a sacrifice fly to left field, bringing home Navarreto.

The Kernels added another run in the top of the third, taking a 5-3. Fernandez led off the third with a single to left. T.J. White followed with a double down the left field line, moving Fernandez to third. A two-out, wild pitch brought Fernandez home to score, giving Cedar Rapids their second two-run lead of the night.

The Cougars cut the Kernels lead to one on an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth. Marty Herum gave Kane County their first baserunner of the frame with a one-out, infield single, advancing to second base on a Cedar Rapids throwing error. Herum came around to score two hitters later on the team's second error of the inning, cutting the Cedar Rapids lead to 5-4.

Cedar Rapids regained their two-run lead in the top of the sixth, going on top, 6-4. A two-out RBI single off the bat of Gordon brought around English from second.

Michael Theofanopoulos picked up his first hold of the season. The southpaw tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and a walk while striking out two. C.K. Irby recorded his first save of the season with a scoreless bottom of the ninth. The right-hander allowed just one hit and struck out three of the four batters he faced.

The Kernels look to complete the sweep on Saturday afternoon vs. the Kane County Cougars. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. LHP Stephen Gonsalves (0-0, 0.00) gets the start for Cedar Rapids while RHP Jefferson Mejia (0-0, 0.00) starts for the Cougars.

Check out the Cedar Rapids Kernels Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from April 10, 2015


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