Cedar Rapids falls 3-2 in heartbreaker

Cedar Rapids, IA – The Cedar Rapids Kernels led 2-1 with two down and two strikes in the ninth inning but saw four straight Whitecaps reach in an eventual 3-2 loss to West Michigan on Thursday night. Cedar Rapids closes the first half 43-23 – the best record in the Midwest League.

Aaron Rozek threw exceptionally well for the Kernels, extending his scoreless streak to 15.1 innings with 5.0 shutout frames of one-hit baseball. The lefty struck out four and walked a pair, throwing 45 strikes on 64 pitches with a 61.5% ground ball rate.

Cedar Rapids plated both their runs in the fourth as Seth Gray and Yunior Severino rapped back-to-back two-out singles followed by a two-run double blasted off the left field wall by Will Holland.

Trailing by a run in the home half of the ninth, Aaron Sabato doubled to lead off the frame but pinch runner Dylan Neuse was left standing at third to end the game.

Game four of the series is set for 6:35 p.m. on Friday evening.

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