Enlow's Career Night All for Naught

GENEVA, ILL. - Blayne Enlow registered a personal-best six shutout innings and six strikeouts Thursday at Northwestern Medicine Field, but the Kane County Cougars scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth for a 3-2 walk-off victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Cedar Rapids (21-21) finished 4-3 on its week-long road swing including a four-game split at Kane County (22-21).
Enlow kept the Cougars scoreless within the longest and most successful start of his professional career. He worked around back-to-back two-out walks in the first inning and induced a 5-4-3 double play to escape a bases-loaded jam in the fourth to halt Kane County's biggest early scoring threats. Enlow also notched one strikeout in each inning while establishing a new career high in the category.

The Kernels grabbed a 2-0 lead during the sixth via Shane Carrier's second home run in as many days. Alex Kirilloff drew a one-out walk ahead of Carrier, who crushed a two-run blast to center field and ended the scoreless deadlock.
Kane County was held to one hit over eight scoreless innings before rallying in the ninth for the come-from-behind win. Yoel Yanqui led off with a single and advanced to second base on an error. A wild pitch allowed Yanqui to reach third, and Renae Martinez drove him home with an RBI double. Ernie De La Trinidad followed with an RBI double that plated pinch-runner William Gorman. Eduardo Diaz batted next and delivered a walk-off single to right field that secured the Cougars' 3-2 triumph.
Matt Brill (3-0) tossed a perfect top of the ninth and received credit for the victory. Cedar Rapids' Calvin Faucher earned a hold for shutout pitching in the seventh and eighth innings, but Jared Finkel (2-2) was charged for a blown save and the loss after yielding four hits and three runs within the final frame.
All four contests in the series between Cedar Rapids and Kane County were decided by one run. The Kernels and the Cougars alternated wins to split the four-game set.
A nine-game, seven-day homestand awaits the Cedar Rapids Kernels on their return to Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Cedar Rapids will kick off the homestand Friday at 6:35 p.m. with a visit from the Clinton LumberKings. Fans unable to attend Friday's game can follow the action on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com, www.kernels.com, and MiLB.TV.
The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a free Trevor Hoffman Bobblehead. The homestand opener will also be a Kernels Friday Mug Club Night sponsored by Stadium Bar & Grill, Shuey's Restaurant & Lounge, Red's Public House, Mulligan's Pub, and Z102.9. A special refillable 16 oz. mug of regular draft beer or soda is only $6.00, and that mug can be used for $3.00 refills at every Kernels Friday home game this season.
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.