Kernels Lose Five Run Lead in 7-6 Loss at South Bend
South Bend, IN - South Bend scored twice in the fifth and four times in the seventh to erase a 6-1 deficit and top Cedar Rapids Friday night 7-6. After scoring first in the first three games of the set, Cedar Rapids got on the board first again in game
South Bend, IN - South Bend scored twice in the fifth and four times in the seventh to erase a 6-1 deficit and top Cedar Rapids Friday night 7-6.
After scoring first in the first three games of the set, Cedar Rapids got on the board first again in game four of the series. In the top of the fourth, Rubel Cespedes reached on an error to begin the inning, and the next batter, Misael Urbina, crushed a two-run homer to lift the Kernels ahead 2-0. After the home run, the next two batters, Jose Salas and Nate Baez, both singled, putting two on for Keoni Cavaco, who made it a 3-0 game with a sacrifice fly.
South Bend answered right back in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs in the frame, Yohendrick Pinnango crushed his second home run of the series, a solo shot to right to put the Cubs on the board 3-1.
In the top of the fifth, it was time for Cedar Rapids to respond. Luke Keaschall doubled to begin the inning, and after Ricardo Olivar walked, two were on for Danny De Andrade who emptied the bases with a two-run double. De Andrade moved up to third on a Cespedes flyout, then scored on a throwing error by catcher Ethan Hearn to increase the Kernels' lead to 6-1.
Trailing by five entering the bottom of the fifth inning, South Bend began the rally back. A double and a walk put two runners on the begin the inning, and RBI singles from Rafel Morel and Pedro Ramirez cut the Cedar Rapids lead to 6-3.
In the bottom of the seventh, South Bend grabbed the lead it would never lose. Morel singled and stole second to lead off the inning, and came home to score on a Jefferson Rojas RBI base hit. After a Pinango single, a walk loaded the bases and a sacrifice fly made it a 6-5 game with two outs in the inning. The next batter, Parker Chavers, grounded a ball to second that was thrown away to tie the game at 6-6, and the next batter, Brian Kalmer, put the Cubs on top 7-6 with an RBI double.
Cedar Rapids went down 1-2-3 in both the eighth and ninth innings as South Bend held on for the 7-6 comeback win.
The loss drops the Kernels to 17-13 on the season and 2-2 in the series against the Cubs. Game five of the series in South Bend is set for tomorrow at 3:05 with C.J. Culpepper on the mound against Nick Hull.