MWL Cedar Rapids Kernels

South Bend Explodes for 15 Hits, Tops Kernels 10-2

Published on June 17, 2023 under Midwest League (MWL)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


Cedar Rapids, IA - Kevin Alcantara went 5-5 with two home runs and six RBI as the South Bend slugger led the Cubs to the 10-2 win over Cedar Rapids Saturday night, snapping the Kernels' five-game winning streak.

After Cedar Rapids took the first four games of the series against South Bend, the Cubs came out swinging right away Saturday night. With one out in the top of the first, Ed Howard singled, and the next batter Kevin Alcantara smashed a long home run to left field to give the Cubs the early 2-0 lead.

In the bottom half of the second, the Kernels themselves used the home run to their advantage to tie the ball game. With one out, Jeferson Morales launched his third home run of the season over the left field wall, and the next batter Willie Joe Garry Jr. cranked a home run out to left as well in his first at-bat back from injury. Hitting back-to-back home runs for the fourth time this season, Cedar Rapids tied the game at 2-2 after two.

Those two home runs, however, would be the only runs scored by the Kernels. In the top of the third, South Bend would start to open up the lead it would never lose; Howard led off the inning with a double, then Ezequiel Pagan singled to put two on for Alcantara. The Cubs outfielder then produced his third RBI of the night, scoring Howard with a single, then the next batter, Luis Verdugo, scored Pagan with a double giving the Cubs a 4-2 advantage.

In the fourth, South Bend continued to grow the lead. With one out, Howard launched his first home run of the season, then after a single, Alcantara smashed his second home run of the night, his second two-run shot, making it a 7-2 Cubs lead.

That tally held until the top of the sixth inning, when Alcantara produced his sixth run of the night with an RBI single, growing the South Bend lead to six.

Alcantara registered another hit in the eighth inning, finishing the contest 5-5, and South Bend added two more runs in the top of the ninth frame opening the lead to 10-2, which would be the final.

The loss for Cedar Rapids (36-26) snaps the team's five-game winning streak as the Kernels allow double-digit runs for the first time since May 10. The victory for South Bend (29-32) ends the Cubs' season-long six-game losing streak, and they look to make it back-to-back wins to end the series tomorrow afternoon. Kyle Jones toes the rubber for Cedar Rapids against Connor Noland at 1:05.

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