Harry’s Go-Ahead Three-Run Home Run Leads Cedar Rapids Over Dayton 4-2

Cedar Rapids, IA - Tailing 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Jay Harry crushed a go-ahead three-run home run over the wall in right to lift the Kernels ahead 4-2, a lead they would never lose in a victory over Dayton Sunday afternoon.

For the fourth time in the six-game series, Dayton grabbed the lead first in the top of the first inning. After a walk and a single to begin the game, Cam Collier delivered an RBI single to give the Dragons the early 1-0 lead.

In the bottom half of the first, Cedar Rapids answered right back. For the second time in the series, Luke Keaschall smashed a leadoff home run over the wall in center, this one to tie the game at 1-1.

That stayed the score all the way until the top of the seventh inning. C.J. Culpepper made his first start of the season on the mound for the Kernels, and after allowing the first three batters of the game to reach, he retired the next 11 that he faced, tossing four one-run innings in his season debut.

In the top of the seventh, Carlos Jorge delivered a single to give the Dragons a one-out base runner. On first base, Jorge broke to try to steal second, and the throw-down went into center field. Jorge then left for third, and the ball got behind Wilie Joe Garry, allowing Jorge to come all the way around to score to put Dayton back on top 2-1.

Down by a run, Ricardo Olivar led off the bottom of the seventh inning by crushing a double off the wall. The next batter, Jose Salas, walked, putting two on for Jay Harry, who smashed a go-ahead three-run home run to give Cedar Rapids its first lead of the day at 4-2.

Jordan Carr came in relief out of the Kernels bullpen and collected the final seven outs of the game, picking up his first win of the season and locking down the Cedar Rapids 4-2 victory.

The Kernels win the opening homestand of the season with four wins over Dayton and are back to .500 at 4-4 on the season. Cedar Rapids hits the road for a six-game series in Wisconsin on Tuesday; game one of the set is slated for a 6:40 start.