MWL Cedar Rapids Kernels

Quad Cities Walks-off Kernels in 12-10 Thriller

Published on August 13, 2023 under Midwest League (MWL)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


Davenport, IA - Just two pitches into the top of the tenth inning, Kale Emshoff crushed a game-winning two-run home run over the wall in left field as Quad Cities walked off Cedar Rapids in game five of the series 12-10.

Cedar Rapids was the first to get on the board Saturday, and it happened in the top of the first inning. With one out, Emmanuel Rodriguez ripped a single and moved to second on an error. The next batter, Kala'i Rosario, then deposited a single into right-center field to score Rodriguez and give the Kernels a 1-0 lead.

That was the score until two were out in the bottom of the second. With two already out in the inning, River Town swung and missed at strike three but reached on a dropped third strike to give the River Bandits a two-out base runner. The next batter, Emshoff, took ball four to put two on for Shervyen Newton, who put Quad Cities ahead with a three-run home run.

In the third inning, the Bandits added one more. A double and a single put two in scoring position for Carter Jensen, who made it a 4-1 game with a sac fly.

In the top of the fifth inning, Cedar Rapids grabbed its lead back. A single, walk and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Noah Miller, who scored all three with a double to tie the game at 4-4. The next batter, Rodriguez, walked, and behind him, Rosario drove home his second run of the game to put the Kernels back on top with an RBI single. A batter later, Rodriguez came home to score on a wild pitch to put the Kernels up 6-4.

In the top of the seventh frame, Quad Cities posted its big inning. After a leadoff single, Eric Kennedy hooked a two-run home run around the pole in right field to tie the game at 6-6. After an error and a walk put two on, Jensen picked up his second RBI of the night on a single, giving the River Bandits the lead and keeping two on base for Juan Carlos Negret. With already three home runs in the series, Negret belted his fourth on an inside-the-park shot to open the lead for the Bandits to 10-6.

Down by two runs with six outs left, the Kernels rallied back to tie it. In the eighth inning, Ben Ross lead off the frame with a single, then three batters later, Carson McCusker cut the Quad Cities lead in half with a two-run home run to center field. In the ninth inning, Miller led off with a double but was retired on a fielder's choice by Rodriguez. With one on, Rosario walked to place runners on first and second. A wild pitch moved both up 90 feet, then Rodriguez came home to score on another wild pitch on the same offering, Ross took first base on a walk, and Rosario slid up to third base. With runners now on the corners with one out, Andrew Cossetti tied the game at 10-10 with a sac fly.

Mike Paredes, out of the Kernels bullpen, tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his second scoreless frame of the evening to send the game to extra innings.

In the top of the tenth inning, Cedar Rapids loaded the bases but could not get a run home, keeping the game tied going to the bottom of the tenth inning. On just the second pitch of the frame, Emshoff crushed a walk-off two-run blast to propel Quad Cities to the thrilling 12-10 win.

The loss for Cedar Rapids (65-42) is the third in the series to Quad Cities (47-60). The two sides wrap up the set tomorrow at 1:00, with C.J. Culpepper taking the mound for the Kernels.

Check out the Cedar Rapids Kernels Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Midwest League Stories from August 13, 2023


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.

OurSports Central