CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - A first-inning home run by Shane Carrier gave the Cedar Rapids Kernels an early lead Wednesday in game two of a day-night doubleheader before the Quad Cities River Bandits responded with eight consecutive runs and secured an 8-4 victory and a twin bill sweep at Perfect
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - A first-inning home run by Shane Carrier gave the Cedar Rapids Kernels an early lead Wednesday in game two of a day-night doubleheader before the Quad Cities River Bandits responded with eight consecutive runs and secured an 8-4 victory and a twin bill sweep at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Quad Cities (21-17) opened the doubleheader with a 6-2 triumph Wednesday afternoon.
Carrier launched the Kernels (17-17) to a 2-0 advantage in the opening stanza of the nightcap. Alex Kirilloff extended the inning with a walk ahead of Carrier, who hit a laser to left field for a two-run blast.
The River Bandits surged in front, 5-2, during the second inning. Jake Adams scored the first run of the rally on a Corey Julks single coupled with an error. Jonathan Lacroix tied the contest with an RBI single, and Jake Meyers put Quad Cities ahead with a three-run homer to left field. The River Bandits had also plated five runs in the second inning of game one.
Another tally within the third stretched Quad Cities' lead to 6-2. Miguelangel Sierra hit a one-out single and reached second base after Adams was hit by a pitch. Bryan De La Cruz followed with an RBI single that plated Sierra.
Quad Cities increased its advantage in the fifth with two more runs. Ruben Castro led off with a double and later scored on an RBI single by Adams. Near the end of the frame, Colton Shaver delivered a two-out single to bring in Adams for an 8-2 lead.
During the bottom of the sixth, Cedar Rapids trimmed the difference to 8-4. Jose Miranda's RBI force out allowed Jean Carlos Arias to come home. Ben Rodriguez added a run of his own by scoring via wild pitch. The Kernels had the bases loaded later in the inning but failed to close the gap further.
Carlos Sanabria (1-0) picked up the victory while Randy Dobnak (3-2) took the loss. Sanabria induced a groundout from Kirilloff to end the sixth and retired the side in order within the seventh. Dobnak surrendered a career-high 11 hits and eight runs over 4.2 innings pitched.
Cedar Rapids and Quad Cities will wrap up their five-game, four-day series Thursday at 6:35 p.m. with the rubber game. Kernels right-hander Bailey Ober (0-1, 13.03) is scheduled to start against River Bandits southpaw Parker Mushinski (1-0, 1.75). Fans unable to attend Thursday's tilt can follow the action on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com, www.kernels.com, and MiLB.TV.
Postgame fireworks are on tap for Thursday evening. Guns & Hoses Jersey Night includes special police and fire department jerseys, sponsored by Big Dog Satellite, that will be worn by the Kernels and auctioned off during the contest to support the Cedar Rapids Police Protective Association and Cedar Rapids Fire Fighters Foundation. It will also be First Federal Credit Union Flat Screen Thursday, 94.1 KRNA Thirsty Thursday, and College Night for Thursday's series finale.
Fans can purchase tickets for all Cedar Rapids home games by visiting www.kernels.com, going to the Kernels Ticket Office, or calling (319) 896-7560. The Kernels Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. On Sundays when the Kernels have a home game, the Kernels Ticket Office will open at 11:00 a.m.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
