Kernels Breeze By Clinton, 5-0

Clinton, IA - A day after clinching a playoff spot, the Clinton LumberKings were shut down by the first-place Cedar Rapids Kernels. Tim Shibuya hurled a complete game shutout for Cedar Rapids, limiting Clinton to four hits on Friday.

Cedar Rapids scored in the first inning and never looked back in the series opener. Jonathan Murphy and Tyler Grimes led off the contest with back-to-back singles off David Holman. After a fielder's choice, Max Kepler broke the ice with a sacrifice fly to give Cedar Rapids a 1-0 lead.

Tim Shibuya cruised throughout the evening for the Kernels. After Dario Pizzano's single in the first inning, Shibuya retired the next 16 batters until the seventh inning.

The Kernels added single tallies in the third and fourth to push their lead to 3-0. Tyler Grimes delivered an RBI single to score Jonathan Murphy in the third. In the next inning, Mike Gonzales launched a mammoth solo home run to right-center.

Bo Altobelli tacked on another run for Cedar Rapids with an RBI single off Holman in the sixth inning. The Kernels made it 5-0 with a run in the ninth inning. Travis Harrison came across on a throwing error by first baseman Taylor Ard, scoring an unearned run off Jochi Ogando.

Shibuya finished the night with a complete game shutout, surrendering only four hits to the LumberKings lineup. David Holman was saddled with another loss despite a strong outing. Holman matched his career-high with eight innings worked.

The LumberKings and Kernels face off in game two on Sunday afternoon at Ashford University Field. Clinton turns to left-hander Blake Holovach (1-2, 5.37) to make a spot start against Kernels right-hander Tim Atherton (8-4, 2.61). First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM CT.