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MWL1 Cedar Rapids Kernels

With Casilla's help Kernels finally slay Dragons

July 30, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


Alexi Casilla collected five hits in five plate appearances and the Kernels survived a late Dayton rally to defeat the Dragons in front of 3,714 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.

The victory over Dayton was the first of the year by the Kernels and came in the sixth meeting between the two teams.

But the story of the night was Casilla who singled through the left side of the infield to lead off the game and extend his hitting streak to a team-best 16 games then never slowed down. The speedy infielder had a bunt single in the second, a single to left in the fourth, a double to left in the sixth, and a line drive single to center in the eighth. In the process Casilla scored three times and drove in one as the Kernels improved to 16-20 in the second half.

The win did not come easy though as the Kernels had to fight off a late charge by the Dragons. Down 9-1 in the eighth Dayton put up five runs on the Kernels with the big blow coming on a three-run homer by Cody Strait off reliever Casey Mutter. The pitch was Mutter's first of the game after inheriting two runners from T. J. Stanton with no one out. A two-run double by pinch hitter Evan Conley preceded Strait's clout.

The Kernels added two insurance runs in their half of the eighth with the first coming thanks to some quality baseball on the part of the home team. Michael Collins led off the inning by being hit by a pitch then stole second with Drew Toussaint batting. Toussaint, who is second in the league in slugging percentage, then laid down a textbook sacrifice bunt to move Collins 90 feet from home. Josh LeBlanc then hit a screaming triple off the wall in left to plate Collins before coming home on a groundout by Warner Madrigal.

Dayton added one run in the ninth off reliever Chris Waters after Cincinnati Reds prospect B. J. Szymanski hit his second home run in as many days.

Karl Gelinas was his usual effective self as he started the Kernels down the path toward victory with six innings of six-hit, one-run ball to improve to 7-6 on the year. Gelinas' lone slip came in the fifth when a bloop single by Adam Rosales allowed Drew Anderson to score. Anderson had reached on a two out triple.

A three-run first also helped boost the confidence of the Kernels. Casilla scored on a sacrifice fly by Collins to start the scoring and Freddy Sandoval scored on a grounder by Toussaint before Toussaint scored on a single by Madrigal.

Jordan Renz picked up an RBI in the third and the Kernels added three more runs in the fourth when Sean Rodriguez, Casilla, and Sandoval strung together singles to begin the inning. Rodriguez scored on Sandoval's single to center and Casilla eventually made his way home when Collins reached on a fielder's choice. Collins scored two batters later when an errant throw from Dayton's Tonys Gutierrez flew wide of third where Collins had strayed from the bag.

Collins had an RBI on a bloop double in the sixth for his only hit. He was 1-for-3 with a team-high three runs driven in and another two scored.

All told the two teams combined for 18 runs and 28 hits with the Dragons committing three errors.

The Kernels and Dragons meet again Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. for the third game of a four-game series. Nick Green makes just his second start of the year for the Kernels with Jon George slated to throw for the Dragons. Gates open at 1 p.m. for another KDAT Family Fun Day at the stadium.

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Midwest League Stories from July 30, 2005


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