MWL1 Cedar Rapids Kernels

Swing snap streak at six wins with three-run eighth

Published on July 9, 2005 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


The Swing of the Quad Cities used a three-run eighth inning to snap the Kernels' six game winning streak Saturday night in Davenport. Eric Verbryke hit a two-run double off reliever Chris Waters to put the Swing ahead 8-7 and the Kernels could only muster a single by Michael Collins in the ninth as the team's longest string of victories this season was snapped.

Cedar Rapids now finds itself tied atop the Western Division standings with the Swing. Both teams are 11-6 in the second half.

Collins was 3-for-4 at the plate and extended his team-best hitting streak to 13 games. The Aussie has upped his batting average to a robust .352 but still needs several at-bats in order to qualify among the league leaders.

After the Swing scored one in the first it was Collins who helped put the Kernels on the board an inning later after he singled to right in his first plate appearance. Collins later stole second and Drew Toussaint walked to put the Kernels in business with no outs. With one out Josh LeBlanc smoked a two-run double to left to clear the bases.

The Swing regained the lead in the bottom half of the frame but the Kernels took the lead after scoring a pair of runs in the third and fourth innings. Sean Rodriguez scored on another single by Collins in the third and LeBlanc scored on a single by Chris Walston in the fourth to give Cedar Rapids a 4-3 lead.

Rodriguez led off the fifth by belting a solo home run for his 5th round-tripper of the season. The Kernels would add two more runs on RBI singles by Richard Giannotti and LeBlanc.

The Swing chipped away at the Kernel lead with one run in both the fifth and sixth innings before scoring three in the fateful eighth.

Kernel starter Fernando Rodriguez tossed five innings and allowed four runs on nine hits while striking out three and walking a pair. Chris Waters took the loss for the Kernels after relieving lefty Jamie Douglas to start the eighth. Waters allowed all three runs in the eighth while pitching just 2/3 of an inning before being replaced with Casey Mutter.

The two teams will meet again on Sunday afternoon in Davenport for game three of their four game series. Right-handed pitcher Jesse Smith is scheduled to pitch for the Kernels as they look to start another winning streak.

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Midwest League Stories from July 9, 2005


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