Beloit Wins Opener Versus Cedar Rapids

BELOIT, Wis. – The Cedar Rapids Kernels grabbed a 4-1 third-inning lead Tuesday at Pohlman Field, but the Beloit Snappers rallied for a 5-4 triumph to start a six-game series. The Snappers (16-15) benefitted from 6.1 shutout innings of relief pitching and four unanswered runs of offense.

During the second inning, Beloit picked up a 1-0 advantage. Ricky Aracena’s two-out triple kept the inning alive, and he scored on a wild pitch.

Cedar Rapids (13-18) homered twice while moving in front, 4-1, in the third. Spencer Steer smashed a three-run home run to left-center field for his team-high-tying fifth round-tripper this season. Wander Javier added a one-out solo shot to left-center field which was his second blast of the year.

Relief pitchers Jackson Rose, Andrew Nardi (1-0), and Justin Evans combined to keep the Kernels scoreless from there. Rose went 3.1 innings and also left an inherited runner stranded. Nardi tossed two hitless frames and won his Snappers debut. Evans pitched a perfect ninth inning in his first outing with Beloit and earned the save.

The Snappers closed the gap to 4-3 within the fifth inning. Ynmanol Marinez’s one-out RBI double plated Marcos Rivera. Connor Scott singled with two outs to bring in Marinez, but Thomas Jones was retired after a rundown to end the frame.

Two more runs in the eighth lifted Beloit to its winning margin of 5-4. Scott evened the score with an RBI groundout. Two batters later, Griffin Conine’s decisive two-out single allowed Jones to come home.

Owen Griffith (2-2) was charged for a blown save and a loss Tuesday. He allowed two runs over two innings pitched.

Game two of this six-game series between Cedar Rapids and Beloit will take place at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday at Pohlman Field. The probable pitchers are Kernels left-hander Kody Funderburk (0-1, 1.57) and Snappers left-hander Zach King (1-4, 5.33).

Cedar Rapids will host its next homestand from June 15 through June 27. 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.