Cedar Rapids Falls in Road Trip Finale

BELOIT, Wis. – The Beloit Snappers picked up an 8-5 win Sunday afternoon against the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Pohlman Field. Despite the loss, Cedar Rapids (17-19) still earned a 4-2 series victory and went 7-5 over 12 consecutive road games to begin the month of June.

Wander Javier launched the Kernels to a 2-0 lead within the opening stanza. Following a one-out walk for Seth Gray, Javier hit a two-run home run over the wall in left-center field. The clout secured a career-high-tying nine-game hit streak. It was also Javier’s fourth round-tripper of the six-game series.

The Snappers (17-19) posted a five-run second inning to jump in front, 5-2. Tevin Mitchell’s RBI single brought in Ricky Aracena. Dustin Skelton scored next on Ynmanol Marinez’s sacrifice fly. Near the end of the frame, Troy Johnston put Beloit ahead with a three-run homer to center field.

Cedar Rapids and Beloit each plated one run during the third. Jair Camargo capped a mini two-out Kernels rally with a single that drove in Gabe Snyder, but Mitchell added his latest run-scoring single within the bottom half of the inning to set the score at 6-3 Snappers.

Beloit pushed its advantage to 8-3 in the sixth inning. Back-to-back-to-back walks loaded the bases and kept the inning alive, and two wild pitches allowed Connor Scott and Thomas Jones to come home.

Down to the final strike of the game, Snyder provided some late life for the Kernels. He hit a two-run ninth-inning blast to center field that brought Cedar Rapids within 8-5.

Evan Brabrand (1-1) claimed the victory Sunday while Tyler Palm (0-4) was the losing pitcher. Brabrand only surrendered three hits over 3.2 shutout innings in relief. Palm yielded five runs in two-thirds of an inning.

Coming up, Cedar Rapids will host a 12-game homestand from June 15 through June 27 with visits from the South Bend Cubs and the Lansing Lugnuts. The series opener versus South Bend is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Tuesday at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will call the action on www.kernels.com and MiLB.TV.

Tuesday’s tilt is part of the Kernels Reopening Celebration which includes $1 prices for regular hot dogs and a ceremonial first pitch by Ashley Vanorny of the Cedar Rapids City Council. Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium will be opened up to 100% capacity for the first time this season, and the ballpark will also host The Todd Brommelkamp Show from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

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.