Morris, Cespedes Lead Kernels to Series Opening Win over Beloit, 5-4

Cedar Rapids, IA - Behind six scoreless innings from Andrew Morris and a Rubel Cespedes two-run home run, Cedar Rapids opened up a 5-0 lead and hung on to top Beloit 5-4 Tuesday night.

In his fourth start of the season, Kernels’ pitcher Andrew Morris was dominant to start the night Tuesday. In his second start of the year against the Sky Carp, the right-hander went six scoreless innings, allowing just five hits, all singles, and one walk compared to six strikeouts, earning his first win and second quality start of the season.

With Morris in control on the mound, Cedar Rapids got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth. With one out in the frame, Danny De Andrade singled, and Jose Salas was hit by a pitch putting two runners on base. The pair broke for a double steal, and the throw down to third skipped into left field allowing De Andrade to come and score the game's first run. With Salas still in scoring position, Misael Urbina singled through the left side to double the Cedar Rapids lead to 2-0.

In the fifth, the Kernels added on the lead. Gabriel Gonzalez struck a one-out double and was aboard for Rubel Cespedes who mashed his fourth home run of the season to lift Cedar Rapids ahead 4-0. Later in the frame, De Andrade singled, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Salas RBI single to extend the advantage to 5-0.

The was the score when Beloit got on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh. After a single and two quick outs to begin the inning, Andrew Fernandez smashed an RBI double to make it 5-1. After the next batter walked, Mark Coley belted a three-run home run to cut the Cedar Rapids lead to 5-4.

After Beloit cut it to just a one-run Kernels lead, Gabriel Yanez picked up the final out of the seventh and pitched to a scoreless eighth. Ricardo Velez came on for the ninth and pitched to a scoreless frame earning his second save of the season in the Cedar Rapids 5-4 victory.

The win for the Kernels ends the Cedar Rapids three-game losing streak and improves the Kernels to 5-2 at home. Game two of the series with Beloit is set for tomorrow at 6:35, with John Klein on the mound for the Kernels opposite Jacob Miller.