MWL1 Cedar Rapids Kernels

Marek, Aldridge combine to help stop streak at 5

Published on May 26, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


Stephen Marek (5-1) allowed just two runs over 7 2/3 innings of work at John O'Donnell Stadium on Friday night as the Kernels defeated the Swing of the Quad Cities 3-2 to snap a five-game losing streak. The Kernels improved to 21-27 while the Swing fell to 19-26 on the season.

The Sealy, TX, right-hander shut the Swing out for seven innings before finally tiring in the seventh and giving way to Ryan Aldridge with two on and two out. Aldridge surrendered a single to Daniel Nelson to plate both runners but got Cardinals prospect Colby Rasmus to strike out looking to end the inning.

Aldridge worked a 1-2-3 ninth and ended the game by blowing a fastball past A. J. Van Slyke to pick up his eighth save of the season.

Hits were hard to come by as the Kernels collected just five of them and struck out a seasonhigh 15 times. Much of that had to do with Swing starter and 2005 supplemental first round draft pick Mark McCormick (1-4), who fanned 10 Kernels in five innings of work.

The Kernels got to McCormick early on for two runs in the first inning when Dallas Morris and Stantrel Smith stroked back-to-back RBI singles to spot Marek an early lead.

Brad Coon plated what would ultimately prove to be the game-winning run off Swing right-hander Matt Trent in the seventh inning. After Hainley Statia doubled with two out, Coon lashed a triple to left-center to score Statia. Trent then got Jordan Renz to strike out looking to end the threat.

That run was costly as Aaron Rodgers, who drove in the only run of Thursday night's game, started the Swing eighth with an infield single up the middle which Larry Infante succeeded in knocking down. After Marek induced a pair of fly outs, Jose Martinez knocked a single to left to put runners on the corners. That was enough for Kernels skipper Bobby Magallanes to call Aldridge in from the pen.

The Kernels will look to put together back-to-back wins for the first time since May 1st when they face the Swing at John O'Donnell on Saturday night at 7 p.m. Right-hander Robert "Moose" Mosebach (3-2) will face Swing righty Kyle Sadlowski (2-1).

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Midwest League Stories from May 26, 2006


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