Dominant pen', Encarnacion-Strand's big night leads Kernels past Sky Carp

Beloit, WI – Christian Encarnacion-Strand went 3-for-4 and accounted for all four runs as four relievers combined to fire 8.0 scoreless in a 4-2 Kernels win over Beloit on Wednesday evening. Matthew Swain, Orlando Rodriguez, Tyler Palm and Ryan Shreve held the Sky Carp to three hits while walking none and striking out seven out of the bullpen. The Kernels are now 51-32, 8-9 in the second half.

Encarnacion-Strand opened the scoring by blasting his 20th home run of the season out to left in the first. Beloit responded with a quick pair of runs in the home half to go up 2-1.

Swain entered in the second as part of the scheduled staff day, going 2.0 scoreless and striking out three. Rodriguez earned the win in relief with 3.0 shutout frames of two-hit ball, punching out three batters.

The Kernels’ bats woke back up in the fifth as Encarnacion-Strand ripped a two-run double down the left field line and scored one pitch later on a Seth Gray single poked into right.

Palm locked in his fourth hold by going six up, six down in the seventh and eighth. Shreve slammed the door in the ninth with a 1-2-3 frame.

Game two of the series is set for 7:35 p.m. CT on Wednesday evening in Beloit.

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