Beloit walks off in 10th to spoil comeback
BELOIT, Wis. - Shawn Duinkerk's walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning gave Beloit a 7-6 win over the Kernels on Saturday afternoon. The Kernels scored three runs in the ninth inning to send the game to extra innings.
Duinkerk's RBI single in the 10th capped off a string of four consecutive singles with one out. With the game tied 6-6, Sandber Pimentel began the rally by singling into right. Max Kuhn and Joe Bennie followed with singles to center to load the bases. Duinkerk's RBI single went the opposite way to left-center and scored Pimentel, giving Beloit their first win over the Kernels in eight games this season.
The Kernels rallied to tie the game 6-6 with three runs in the top of the ninth inning. With Beloit leading 6-3, Nick Gordon singled into left field before Trey Vavra chopped a single through the middle to put two on. Max Murphy followed with a walk to load the bases. Zack Larson's two-RBI single to center scored both Gordon and Vavra, cutting Beloit's lead to one. T.J. White reached on a fielding error by third baseman Edwin Diaz, loading the bases again. Murphy scored to tie the game 6-6 on Brett Doe's RBI sacrifice fly to center field.
The Snappers hit four home runs on the afternoon, including two by Yairo Munoz. Blake Schmit went deep for the Kernels.
Michael Cederoth (1-4) took the loss for the Kernels after allowing one run and five hits over 2 1/3 innings in relief. Cederoth struck out three and walked none. Jose Torres (3-3) recorded the win, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits in two innings.
James Harris put the Snappers up early with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning. Harris pulled his second home run of the season to left field to give Beloit a 1-0 lead.
The Kernels took a 2-1 lead in the second inning as they collected three hits. T.J. White singled to center, and Brett Doe chopped a single into right to begin the inning. White came home on Pat Kelly's RBI single to right field. Doe came home from third base on Blake Schmit's RBI groundout.
Beloit hit back to back home runs in the third inning to jump ahead, 3-2. With two outs, Yairo Munoz smacked a home run to deep left-center. His third of the season tied the game. Sandber Pimentel came up next and drilled his sixth home run of the season over the batter's eye in straight-away center, putting the Snappers in front.
Schmit tied the game 3-3 when he led off the fifth inning with a solo blast to center field. Schmit's first home run of the season went over the wall, just to left of the batter's eye.
The Snappers moved ahead 5-3 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Edwin Diaz began the inning by reaching second base on a fielding error by Kernels third baseman T.J. White. After a walk to Harris that put two men on, Trent Gilbert's RBI single to center scored Diaz and gave Beloit the lead. Harris came home on Munoz's RBI sacrifice fly to center field.
Munoz hit his second home run of the day to left field in the seventh inning to give the Snappers a 6-3 lead. Munoz'z fourth of the season was Beloit's fourth long ball of the afternoon.
Keaton Steele started for the Kernels and went 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits. He struck out six and walked two. Jose Velez made his Kernels debut and pitched 2 1/3 innings. He allowed one run on one hit, striking out four and walking none.
Dustin Driver started for Beloit and allowed two runs on four hits over two innings. He struck out three and walked one.
The series continues on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. RHP Zack Tillery (3-1, 2.30) moves into the rotation and makes the start for the Kernels. Tillery has earned two wins in two relief appearances against the Snappers this season. RHP Kevin Johnson (1-3, 5.16) gets the start for Beloit.
The Kernels next home game is Tuesday, May 26 at 6:35 p.m. Cedar Rapids hosts the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the Midwest League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. It's another Twins Tuesday, presented by Great Clips. Get an online coupon from the Kernels Facebook page or email newsletter for a 2-for-1 ticket offer. The Kernels will wear special jerseys that will be sold via a silent auction at the end of the season. One lucky fan will win a pair of Minnesota Twins tickets.
Tickets are available online at www.kernels.com. You can also visit the Kernels Ticket Office at Veterans Memorial Stadium or online at www.kernels.com.