Snappers Even Series Against Kernels with 6-5 win

BELOIT, Wisc - The Beloit Snappers chased Cedar Rapids ace Kohl Stewart out of the ballgame in the third inning, en route to a 6-5 victory Monday afternoon. 

Stewart, the 4th overall draft pick in the 2013 draft, had his worst outing of the season against Beloit. Stewart entered the game with a 2.21 ERA (8th best in the MWL) and hadn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his eight starts this season. 

The highly touted prospect struggled from the onset, however, giving up four earned runs, four walks in 2.1 innings pitched, all season-worsts. The outing could've been worse for Stewart as well, as the Snappers left five men on base in the first two innings. 

Luis Baez began the damage in the third inning as his sacrifice fly with the bases loaded scored Jaycob Brugman. In the next at-bat, BJ Boyd hit a 3-run home run to break the game open and give Beloit a 4-0 advantage. The home run snapped a 3-game hitless streak for Boyd, who was batting .091 in his last ten games entering Monday. 

Cedar Rapids produced its first hit and runs in the fourth inning as Bryan Haar blasted a 2-run home run to cut the Beloit lead in half, 4-2. The home run is Haar's 8th of the season, his second of the series against the Snappers, and puts him in second place in the MWL in the category. 

The Snappers were able to answer the Kernels' outburst in the bottom of the frame as back-to-back RBI's from Tyler Marincov and B.A. Vollmuth extended Beloit's lead to 6-2. 

Beloit's Kyle Finnegan had a productive start on the mound (7 IP, 4H, 2 ER) as he improved his record to 5-1 on the season. Sam Bragg, (1/3 IP, 3 H, 3 ER) who replaced Finnegan in the 8th inning, struggled to hold the Snappers's lead. A pair of back-to-back home runs from Chad Christensen and Mitch Garver brought the Kernels to within one, as they trailed 6-5. 

Cedar Rapids couldn't complete the upset in the ninth inning, however, as Andres Avila retired all three batters in succession.

Beloit and Cedar Rapids conclude its series Tuesday morning at 11:00 A.M. at Pohlman Field. Call (608) 362-2272 to get your tickets.