Big Inning Boosts Whitecaps Over Kernels

COMSTOCK PARK, MICH. - The West Michigan Whitecaps scored six runs in a tiebreaking fourth-inning rally to secure the lead in an 8-1 victory Friday night against the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Fifth Third Ballpark. West Michigan (15-18) and Cedar Rapids (15-19) are now tied at 1-1 in a three-game series that will wrap up Saturday evening.
Miscues allowed both the Whitecaps and the Kernels to plate an early run. Reece Hampton was hit by a pitch to open the bottom of the first and later scored on a throwing error during a pickoff attempt. Cedar Rapids tied the game, 1-1, during the third when Yeltsin Encarnacion came home via balk.

West Michigan took a 7-1 lead within a pivotal fourth inning. Jordan Pearce put the Whitecaps ahead for good with an RBI single. Avery Tuck brought in the next run during a bases-loaded walk. A wild pitch allowed Pearce to score a run of his own. Hampton added an RBI groundout, and Parker Meadows finished the fourth-inning outburst on a two-run double.
One final run in the seventh gave the Whitecaps an 8-1 advantage. Ulrich Bojarski's single coupled with an error allowed Meadows to score from second base.
Wilkel Hernandez (4-2) and Angel De Jesus pitched for the Whitecaps and recorded a win and a save, respectively. Hernandez earned his team-high fourth victory after allowing one run over six innings within a quality start. De Jesus held the Kernels scoreless in the final three frames for his third save of the year while tallying a season-high seven strikeouts.
West Branch, Michigan native Tyler Palm (1-3) took the loss in his home state. Palm yielded six runs including five earned runs in three-plus innings pitched.
The finale of this three-game series and six-game Cedar Rapids road trip is slated for 7:05 p.m. ET (6:05 p.m. CT) Saturday. Kernels right-hander Cole Sands (1-0, 1.73) and Whitecaps right-hander Carlos Guzman (1-2, 2.88) are the probable pitchers. Broadcast coverage with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will be available on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and online at www.kmryradio.com and www.kernels.com.
Cedar Rapids' next homestand features four games in three days beginning with a doubleheader May 13. 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.