Clinton Wins Monday's Rubber Game

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - The Clinton LumberKings defeated the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 9-7, Monday with 3,406 fans in attendance at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Clinton (23-13, 56-49) bounced back from a shutout loss Saturday for back-to-back wins and a 2-1 series victory.
An error allowed the LumberKings to secure a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. With runners at the corners and one out, Davis Bradshaw dropped a bunt down in front of home plate. The throw went into right field and let Evan Edwards and Bubba Hollins come home.

Wander Javier scored for Cedar Rapids (20-16, 59-47) during the home half of the second. He produced a one-out single and advanced to second base on Trevor Casanova's single. After the play ended, Javier caught the defense napping with a steal of third base. Alex Isola hit a sacrifice fly that drove in Javier and cut the deficit to 2-1.
Clinton quickly answered within the third for a 6-1 advantage. Christopher Torres opened the scoring by heading home via error. J.D. Osborne followed with a two-run single and later scored during an RBI single from Bradshaw.
Zach Scott and Bubba Hollins brought in insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively. Scott delivered his second home run of the season on a sixth-inning solo shot. Hollins put the LumberKings ahead by an 8-1 margin with an RBI single during the seventh.
Isola sliced Clinton's lead to 8-3 within the bottom of the seventh. He launched a two-run homer to left-center field. Isola's second round-tripper was also the Midwest League-high-tying 84th overall blast by the Kernels.
Peyton Burdick pushed the LumberKings to a 9-3 edge during the eighth. Scott reached on a leadoff error and moved into scoring position on a single from Torres. Two batters later, Burdick singled to drive in Scott.
The Kernels rallied in the eighth and ninth innings but could not climb closer than 9-7. Javier's RBI force out and Casanova's two-run single sparked Cedar Rapids within the eighth. Zach Wolf came in from the bullpen and held Cedar Rapids to one final run on a ninth-inning sacrifice fly from Gabe Snyder. Wolf picked up his team-high eighth save by finishing the game.
Jake Walters (3-3) defeated Tyler Palm (2-7) in Monday's matinée. Walters posted a quality start with just one run allowed over six innings of work. Palm was tagged for six runs including four unearned runs in 4.2 innings pitched.
Up next, the Kernels will travel to Pohlman Field for a four-game road series with the Beloit Snappers. First pitch for Tuesday's series opener is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and broadcast coverage will be available on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com and www.kernels.com.
Cedar Rapids will play 14 home games in August beginning Saturday, August 3. 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.