Bees Blank Kernels in Series Finale

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - During the final matchup this season between the Burlington Bees and the Cedar Rapids Kernels, the Bees picked up a 9-0 shutout Sunday in front of 3,673 fans at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Kernels still won this three-game series, 2-1, and this year's season series, 9-7. Cedar Rapids remains at home to host the Quad Cities River Bandits over the next four days.

Sunday's finale started as a pitchers' duel between Burlington's Jesus Castillo and Cedar Rapids' Sam Gibbons. Castillo tossed five scoreless innings and did not allow any runner to get into scoring position. Gibbons retired nine straight batters early in a quality start and kept the Bees off the scoreboard over the first four frames.

A critical error helped Burlington (29-27, 61-65) secure a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning. The bases were loaded with two outs for Troy Montgomery, who hit a line drive to right field. A missed catch allowed all three runners to score as Jordan Zimmerman, Alexi Rivera and Connor Justus all went home due to the error.

The Bees tripled their lead to 9-0 over the remaining innings of Sunday's contest. Within the top of the sixth, Zimmerman produced an RBI groundout to bring in Jared Walsh, and Rivera followed with an RBI single that drove in Jordan Serena. In the ninth, a sacrifice fly from Tanner Lubach plated Rivera, and a three-run home run by Walsh capped the scoring.

Burlington's bullpen silenced the Kernels (32-34, 68-57) following Castillo's scoreless start. Ronnie Glenn induced double plays in the sixth and seventh innings to get through those frames. He stranded a pair of runners with back-to-back strikeouts during the eighth and worked around a walk in a scoreless ninth inning to finish the game.

Castillo (3-0) earned the victory with five shutout frames in a combined shutout. Gibbons (6-5) took the loss after allowing five runs - two earned - over a season-high 7.2 innings pitched. Glenn notched his second career save following four scoreless innings of relief. The Kernels had scored in each of their last 39 consecutive games prior to the shutout loss to the Bees.

Coming up, Cedar Rapids continues this homestand against the Quad Cities River Bandits. Monday's series opener is set for 6:35 p.m., and Kernels right-hander Brady Anderson (1-0, 2.12 ERA) will face River Bandits right-hander Franklin Perez (3-2, 2.83 ERA). Catch the action with Morgan Hawk and Chris Kleinhans-Schulz on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and online at www.kmryradio.com, www.kernels.com and MiLB.TV.

Special deals on Mark Down Monday include regular hot dogs for only $1.50 each and small popcorn, ice cream sandwiches and chips for just $1 apiece. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for the 6:35 p.m. contest.

Tickets for all Kernels home games are available at www.kernels.com, the Kernels Ticket Office and by calling (319) 896-7560. The Kernels Ticket Office is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. The ticket office is closed on Sundays except on Kernels Sunday home dates when it will open at 11:00 a.m.