Lewis' Big Birthday Blast Keys Twin Bill Split
June 6, 2018 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - Royce Lewis hit a grand slam on his 19th birthday and helped the Cedar Rapids Kernels grab a 14-3 win Tuesday in game two of a twin bill split against the Beloit Snappers at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Alex Kirilloff joined Lewis with a grand slam of his own to become the Midwest League's outright leader in home runs. Beloit (26-30) won the first contest of Tuesday's twin bill by a 5-2 margin against Cedar Rapids (27-29).
Lewis and Kirilloff each collected their first professional grand slams to turn a close nightcap into a blowout. Lewis batted with a one-run lead in the fourth inning when he launched a bases-clearing home run to left field. Trey Cabbage hit an RBI double early in the fifth before Kirilloff lifted a four-run clout to left field later in the inning for a 12-2 Kernels lead. Kirilloff's blast was his league-leading 11th round-tripper overall.
The grand slams secured a contest that was separated by one run over the first three frames. Ben Rortvedt's first-inning sacrifice fly gave Cedar Rapids a quick 1-0 advantage. Beloit surged to a 2-1 lead in the top of the third on Logan Farrer's bunt single coupled with an error, but Robby Rinn responded with a two-run, go-ahead homer in Cedar Rapids' half of the inning.
Both sides also scored during the sixth inning. Skyler Webb delivered an RBI single for the Snappers. Andrew Bechtold came through with an RBI single for the Kernels prior to a sacrifice fly from Jordan Gore.
Jared Finkel (3-2) picked up the victory in game two over Jean Ruiz (0-5). Finkel yielded just one run in three innings out of the bullpen. Ruiz was tagged for seven runs over four innings pitched.
In Tuesday's doubleheader opener, Beloit scored in three consecutive innings to build a 3-0 lead. Jack Meggs opened the scoring with a second-inning RBI single that plated Farrar. Trace Loehr produced a solo shot during the third inning. Meggs led off the fourth with a triple and scored on a single from Jesus Lopez.
The Kernels answered in the home half of the fourth and trimmed the deficit to 3-2. Jose Miranda clubbed a leadoff home run to put Cedar Rapids on the scoreboard. Rinn added a one-out double and scored when Bechtold followed with a single.
Lopez and the Snappers pulled away within the sixth inning. Jordan Devencenzi started the frame with a double and advanced to third base via groundout. Lopez batted next and hit a two-run blast that pushed Beloit's lead to 5-2.
Jared Poché (2-4) allowed only two runs over five innings to earn the win. Blayne Enlow (0-2) took the loss after giving up five runs in a career-high-tying six innings. Seth Martinez notched his team-high sixth save with two perfect frames of relief.
This series continues with a day-night doubleheader Wednesday that includes two seven-inning games. The twin bill opener is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. with coverage available online at www.kmryradio.com, www.kernels.com, and MiLB.TV, and the nightcap will begin at 6:35 p.m. featuring broadcast coverage on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com, www.kernels.com, and MiLB.TV.
Each game of Wednesday's twin bill is its own ticketed event, so separate tickets are required for fans interested in attending both tilts. Game one includes a Noon Game Combo Special that consists of a regular sandwich (hamburger, cheeseburger, hot dog, or brat), a choice of chips or popcorn, and either a 16 oz. regular draft beer or 20 oz. bottled soda or water for just $8.50.
Fans can purchase tickets for all Cedar Rapids home games by visiting www.kernels.com, going to the Kernels Ticket Office, or calling (319) 896-7560. The Kernels Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. On Sundays when the Kernels have a home game, the Kernels Ticket Office will open at 11:00 a.m.
• Discuss this story on the Midwest League message board...
Midwest League Stories from June 6, 2018
- Cubs No-Hit TinCaps with 7-0 Shutout - South Bend Cubs
- Morrison Delivers Big Hit for a Rattlers Win - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Offensive Struggles Continue in Comstock Park - Great Lakes Loons
- Morrison's Double Beats Bandits 4-3 on Wednesday Night - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Laws, Nuts Blank Hot Rods, 2-0 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Peacock Cruises to Third Win - Kane County Cougars
- Five-run third sinks LumberKings - Clinton LumberKings
- Hot Rods Lose Two Straight, Fall to Lansing 2-0 - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Chiefs Fall to Cougars 7-1 Wednesday - Peoria Chiefs
- Benson Powers Captains with Two Homers, Five RBIs - Lake County Captains
- Beloit Blanks Cedar Rapids in Nightcap, 3-0 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Ornelas, Lopez Reach Base on Road - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Dragons Fall to Captains 8-5 on Wednesday - Dayton Dragons
- Clinton Takes Game One in Shutout Victory - Burlington Bees
- 'Caps Send Pair to All-Star Game - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Lugnuts Place Standout Large on DL, Add Ryan Gold - Lansing Lugnuts
- TinCaps Game Notes: June 6 at South Bend (Game 57) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- TinCaps Homestand Highlights: June 8-11 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Historical Info: Dayton Dragons in the All-Star Game - Dayton Dragons
- Hot Rods Send Six to MWL All-Star Game - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Kernels Put Four on MWL West All-Star Roster - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Campusano, Leasher, Margevicius, and Radke Named MWL All-Stars - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Snappers Win Opener of Doubleheader - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Whitecaps Set to Welcome 10 Millionth Fan on Friday - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Five South Bend Cubs Players Named Midwest League All-Stars - South Bend Cubs
- Lugnuts' Young, Vicuna, Buffo and Castillo Named MWL All-Stars - Lansing Lugnuts
- Snappers Send Four All-Stars to Lansing - Beloit Sky Carp
- Dragons Notes for Wednesday - Dayton Dragons
- Walker, Scrubb Named Midwest League All-Stars - Great Lakes Loons
- Larsen, Costello, Inman, & Kober named to All-Star Team - Clinton LumberKings
- Three Rattlers Scheduled to Participate in 2018 MWL All-Star Game - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Chiefs Land 6 on All-Star Team with 3 Starters - Peoria Chiefs
- Three Bandits Pitchers Chosen for Midwest League All-Star Team - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Brusdar Graterol and David Banuelos activated from 7-day disabled list - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- MWL Announces 2018 All-Star Game Rosters - MWL1
- Muffet McGraw Visits Four Winds Field as Part of Traveling Trophy Tour - South Bend Cubs
- Isaacs Delivers Sixth Captains Walk-Off - Lake County Captains
- Snappers Split Double-Header in Mismatches - Beloit Sky Carp
- Fireworks and Snappy's Birthday Highlight Homestand - Beloit Sky Carp
- Extra-Tough Loss in 11 at South Bend - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Lewis' Big Birthday Blast Keys Twin Bill Split - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Cubs Outlast TinCaps with Walk-Off in 11th - South Bend Cubs
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.