Kernels fall to Dayton in thrilling series opener

Cedar Rapids, IA – The Cedar Rapids Kernels turned a 4-0 deficit after the top half of the first and a 6-2 deficit after two into a one-run contest but came up just short on Tuesday evening against the Dayton Dragons, falling 6-5 in the series opener. Cedar Rapids’ bullpen fired 7.0 shutout innings to keep things within striking distance as the lineup chipped away against an equally impressive showing by the Dayton bullpen. With the loss, the Kernels now stand at 37-21 with a magic number of 7.

Dayton plated four runs in the top half of the first on a three-run homer and an RBI single. In need of a response, Christian Encarnacion-Strand blasted a two-run bomb out to left then Kyler Fedko teed off on a solo homer two batters later to make it 4-3.

The Dragons added two more in the second before the Kernels handed the ball off to their pen’. Orlando Rodriguez struck out one and scattered three hits over 2.0 scoreless, then Cody Laweryson fired 3.1 shutout frames while punching out six, allowing just three hits and a walk. Brad Hanner recorded the final five outs with a pair of strikeouts, working around a pair of walks.

Wander Javier singled in a run in the home half of the fourth and Aaron Sabato added a bloop RBI single in the seventh as the defense misplayed a towering popup just past the mound. 6-5 was as close as the Kernels would get, as Dayton’s closer nailed down a six-out save.

Javier and Dylan Neuse each had two-hit evenings for the Kernels while Alerick Soularie walked twice and scored a pair of runs.

Game two of the series is set for 12:05 p.m. on Wednesday at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

To keep up to date on information regarding the Kernels 2022 season please visit www.kernels.com or follow our Facebook and Twitter feeds and subscribe to our Kernels email newsletter.