Kernels score nine unanswered to take series opener from Wisconsin

Appleton, WI – Trailing 4-1 through five innings, the Cedar Rapids Kernels plated nine unanswered runs to take the series opener from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 10-4. Yunior Severino went 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBI, Aaron Sabato scored three runs and blasted a grand slam while Wander Javier crossed home twice as part of a 2-for-3 night to fuel the Kernels comeback. Cedar Rapids improves to 56-35, 13-12 in the second half.

Severino opened the scoring in the first with an RBI double to plate Sabato before Wisconsin scored two runs in both the second and fourth frames.

The Kernels began their comeback in the sixth as Severino teed off on a two-run blast to left – Cedar Rapids’ first hit since his double in the first. Javier led off the seventh with a double and scored two batters later on a Will Holland sacrifice fly to tie the game at four all.

Alerick Soularie began the eighth with a rocket single to left and showed off his wheels as Severino laced a go-ahead double into left-center, scoring from first to give Cedar Rapids their first lead since the first inning.

Hunter McMahon entered in the eighth inning with the Kernels leading by a run but facing men on the corners with zero outs. The righthander promptly picked off the runner at first then punched out the two batters he faced to end the threat.

Cedar Rapids tacked on five runs in the ninth thanks to a Soularie bases-loaded walk followed by Sabato obliterating a 436-foot grand slam to dead center.

Orlando Rodriguez earned the win in relief with 2.0 scoreless frames, scattering three hits and striking out a pair. Jon Olsen closed things out with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, punching out two.

Game two of the series is set for 12:10 p.m. CT on Wednesday afternoon in Appleton.

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