Loons take series with doubleheader sweep
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Great Lakes swept Cedar Rapids in the three game series with a pair of extra-inning wins on Friday. The two teams played a total of 21 innings in what was scheduled for two seven-inning games after being washed out on Thursday.
Great Lakes defeated Cedar Rapids, 4-3, in 13 innings in game one and came out victorious in game two by a 3-1 final in eight innings.
Cedar Rapids (36-25) took an early 3-0 lead in game one. Alex Real led off the bottom of the second with a single to left and quickly advanced to second after T.J. White drew a walk. Max Murphy followed White with a two-run triple to center, plating both Real and White. The triple for Murphy was his team-leading sixth of the year, second most in the Midwest League. Two batters later, Tanner English drew a walk, giving the Kernels runners on the corners with one out in the frame. English then swiped second, his team-leading 19th of the year. Edgar Corcino extended Cedar Rapids' lead to 3-0 with a sacrifice fly to right, bringing in Murphy from third.
Great Lakes (34-26) countered with three runs of their own in the top of the third to tie the game at 3-3. Back-to-back two-out singles by Michael Ahmed and Josmar Cordero gave Great Lakes their first two hits. Alex Santana followed Cordero with a three-run home run to left, his second long ball of the season.
The Loons went in front of the Kernels, 4-3, with an unearned run in the top of the 13th. Alex Verdugo got the inning started with a one out single off the third base bag and advanced to third on a Kernels throwing error. Jose Velez then intentionally walked Jimmy, giving Great Lakes runners on the corners. Velez then struck out Michael Ahmed for the second out of the inning. Josmar Corderdo followed Ahmed with an RBI single to right, scoring Verdugo from third.
Brett Doe led the Kernels with two hits in game one. Doe finished 2-for-4 with a pair of singles, two walks and a stolen base. The 25-year-old also extended his season-best hitting streak to 12 games.
Jose Velez (0-1) suffered the loss in game one. The southpaw allowed an unearned run on two hits and one walk while striking out four in two innings out of the bullpen.
Dereck Rodriguez earned a no-decision in his third start. The right-hander allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out two in two innings.
The Cedar Rapids bullpen didn't allow an earned run over nine innings of relief in game one. Luke Bard retired all nine hitters he faced and struck out a pair in three scoreless innings of relief. Randy LeBlanc tossed four scoreless innings of relief, extending his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 20 2/3. The right-hander hit a batter and allowed just one hit while striking out two.
Jose Molina (3-2) recorded the win in game one. The southpaw yielded two walks and struck out three in two scoreless innings of relief.
Great Lakes topped Cedar Rapids, 3-1, in game two of Friday's doubleheader.
Cedar Rapids took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second in game two. Zack Larson led off the inning with a single to left and then stole second, his sixth stolen base. Larson then advanced to third on a Derrick Sylvester. Two batters later, Larson came in to score on a Pat Kelly RBI fielder's choice. The RBI for Kelly was his 23rd.
Great Lakes countered with a run in the top of the fourth, tying this contest at 1-1. Alex Verdugo led off the frame with a double off the left field wall and then advanced to second on a Fastino Oguisten sacrifice bunt. Michael Ahmed followed Oguisten with an RBI single to right, plating Verdugo from third.
Great Lakes added a pair of runs in the top of the eighth to go in front, 3-1. Spencer Navin led off the frame with a double to left-center. Federico Celli then advanced Navin to third with a sacrifice bunt. Keaton Steele then intentionally walked Ramos, giving the Loons runners on the corners. Alex Verdugo put the Loons up by one with an RBI single to right off reliever Trevor Hildenberger, scoring Navin from third. A Kernels fielding error allowed Ramos to score from second, giving the Loons a 3-1 lead over the Kernels.
Keaton Steele (2-2) suffered the loss in game two for Cedar Rapids. The right-hander allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out a season-high eight in a season-best 7 2/3 innings pitched.
Kyle Hooper (2-0) recorded the win for Great Lakes. The right-hander allowed just one hit and struck out three in two scoreless innings of relief.
The Kernels take on the Lansing Lugnuts for the first time this season on Saturday evening. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m. from Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. RHP Zack Tillery (3-1, 2.48) gets the start for Cedar Rapids while RHP Jesus Tinoco (1-3, 4.08) counters for Lansing.
The Kernels continue a nine-game homestand with three games against the Lansing Lugnuts, the Midwest League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Enjoy a spectacular post-game FIREWORKS show on Saturday, June 13th, brought to you by Procter & Gamble. Fireworks nights are VERY popular so make sure to order your tickets online at www.kernels.com or call the Kernels Ticket Office at 896-7560 now. First pitch between the Kernels and Lugnuts is set for 6:35 PM with the gates opening at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets are available online at www.kernels.com. You can also visit the Kernels Ticket Office at Veterans Memorial Stadium or call 319-896-7560. Morgan Hawk brings you the action of all Kernels games live on KMRY Radio (93.1 FM/1450 AM) and online at www.kernels.com