Cedar Rapids Wins Opener at Lansing

LANSING, MICH. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels defeated the Lansing Lugnuts by a final score of 7-5 Saturday at Cooley Law School Stadium. Blayne Enlow recorded a quality start and picked up the win as the Kernels (21-8, 53-45) notched their fifth consecutive victory within the opener of a three-game series with the Lugnuts (13-16, 56-43).  
Jean Carlos Arias lifted Cedar Rapids to a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Arias crushed a solo home run over the 23-foot-high wall down the right-field line for a quick advantage.

Six runs during the top of the fifth pushed the Kernels' edge to 7-0. Michael Davis kicked off the scoring with an RBI single. Robby Rinn added a single of his own that drove in two runs. Multiple errors off a groundball from Jose Miranda allowed two more runs to come home. Arias capped the rally with his Midwest League-leading ninth triple to bring in one final tally.
Enlow (2-2) only allowed two unearned runs over six innings to earn his second consecutive winning decision. He faced one batter over the minimum through four frames until he was tagged for a two-run single by Reilly Johnson in the fifth. Enlow bounced back with a perfect sixth inning to complete his third quality start in a row.
The Lugnuts tagged the Kernels' bullpen for runs in the seventh and eighth innings to slice their deficit to 7-5. Reggie Pruitt grounded to third base and brought in Ryan Gold within the home half of the seventh. During the eighth, Gold hit a two-out, two-run single that cut Cedar Rapids' lead in half.
Lansing's five unanswered runs would not be enough as Kevin Marnon silenced the Lugnuts with a 1-2-3 ninth inning that finished with a strikeout of Johnson.
Kyle Weatherly (2-1) took the loss for Lansing in Saturday's series opener. Weatherly was tagged for seven runs including four unearned runs over a season-high 4.1 innings pitched.
Game two of this three-game series is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. ET (12:05 p.m. CT). Kernels right-hander Jordan Balazovic (5-1, 2.37) will start against Lugnuts left-hander Matt Gunter (2-3, 4.47). Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will call the action on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com and www.kernels.com.
Cedar Rapids' next homestand runs from Wednesday, July 25 through Sunday, July 29. During the homestand, the Kernels will partner with Minor League Baseball and BUSH'S Beans for a food drive to collect non-perishable food donations for HACAP. 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.