Beloit Blanks Cedar Rapids Wednesday

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – An 11-inning pitchers’ duel Wednesday at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium ended with the Beloit Snappers shutting out the Cedar Rapids Kernels by a final score of 1-0. The Snappers (30-38) and the Kernels (37-31) are now in a 1-1 tie within a six-game series.

Louie Varland and Zach King posted strong starts for Cedar Rapids and Beloit, respectively. Varland tallied nine strikeouts over five scoreless innings while surrendering a career-low one hit. King recorded six shutout innings and a career-high-tying eight strikeouts in the longest scoreless outing of his professional career.

Both bullpens kept the contest at 0-0 until the Snappers broke through during the 11th. Marcos Rivera opened the frame at second base and advanced on Ynmanol Marinez’s groundout. Ricky Aracena followed with an RBI single to secure Beloit’s 1-0 advantage.

Justin Evans (2-1) notched a pair of scoreless innings and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the 11th while earning the victory. This was also Beloit’s first win this year when scoring only one run.

Osiris German (0-2) was the losing pitcher for the Kernels. He allowed the unearned run that decided Wednesday’s 11-inning contest.

This six-game series continues Thursday at 6:35 p.m. with Cedar Rapids right-hander Jon Olsen (0-3, 3.78) expected to pitch against Beloit right-hander M.D. Johnson (1-0, 0.69). Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will have the call on www.kernels.com and MiLB.TV.

Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium hosts its next Big Screen Thursday sponsored by First Federal Credit Union and 104.5 KDAT. Three 50-inch big screen televisions will be given away at the contest. Individuals must be at least 18 years old to get a raffle ticket from the First Federal Credit Union table, and participants must be present to win.

Fans can purchase tickets for all Cedar Rapids Kernels home games by visiting www.kernels.com, going to the Kernels Ticket Office, or 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. On Sundays when the Kernels have a home game, the Kernels Ticket Office will open at 11:00 a.m.