Lewis Homers Early in Road Trip Opener

GRAND CHUTE, WIS. - Royce Lewis lifted the Cedar Rapids Kernels to a quick lead with a first-inning home run Friday at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium, but the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers later pulled in front to take a 5-2 victory. Bryan Sammons took the loss for the Kernels despite posting a quality start that included a career-high-tying eight strikeouts.
Lewis' career-best fifth blast of the season produced a 1-0 lead in the opening stanza for the Kernels (28-32). He sent a 1-2 offering from Christian Taugner over the left-field wall for a go-ahead solo shot.

Wisconsin (29-32) tied the contest, 1-1, during the bottom of the first. Demi Orimoloye's two-out double kept the inning alive, and Gilbert Lara singled to drive in Orimoloye and even the score.
KJ Harrison pushed the Timber Rattlers ahead within the fourth inning. Pat McInerney received a one-out walk and reached third base following a stolen base coupled with an error. Harrison lined a two-run homer to left field that put Wisconsin in front, 3-1.
Andrew Bechtold responded in the fifth to cut Cedar Rapids' deficit to 3-2. After Jacob Pearson's leadoff single, Bechtold clubbed an opposite-field RBI double that drove in Pearson from first base.
The Timber Rattlers plated insurance runs during the sixth and eighth innings to stretch their lead to 5-2. A two-out error in the sixth put McInerney aboard, and Harrison hit an RBI double down the left-field line. Orimoloye added another tally within the eighth by coming home via wild pitch.
Taugner (2-4) claimed the victory over Sammons (2-4) in Friday's series opener. Taugner only gave up two runs and four hits in five innings. Sammons recorded a career-high seven innings pitched while allowing four runs including three earned runs in a losing decision.
Wisconsin's bullpen did not allow any runs over the final four frames. Cody Beckman earned his second hold with a pair of shutout innings, and Robbie Hitt tossed two scoreless and hitless innings for his second save.
Game two of this four-game series is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Saturday with Kernels right-hander Edwar Colina (2-1, 4.09) slated to pitch against Timber Rattlers right-hander Alec Bettinger (4-4, 4.13). Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will broadcast the contest on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com and www.kernels.com.
Cedar Rapids' last homestand in the first half of the season is scheduled for Friday, June 15 through Sunday, June 17. 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.