Stellar pitching deals Kernels shutout win over Dragons
Cedar Rapids, IA – Three Cedar Rapids pitchers combined to work the club’s sixth shutout of 2022 as the Kernels blanked Dayton 3-0 on Friday night, reducing their magic number to one with a chance to clinch the First Half West Division Championship tomorrow. Aaron Rozek was dominant over 5.2
Cedar Rapids, IA – Three Cedar Rapids pitchers combined to work the club’s sixth shutout of 2022 as the Kernels blanked Dayton 3-0 on Friday night, reducing their magic number to one with a chance to clinch the First Half West Division Championship tomorrow.
Aaron Rozek was dominant over 5.2 scoreless frames, earning his sixth win of the season while scattering three hits and a pair of walks. He struck out four and worked at a 69.6% first-pitch strike rate while keeping the ball on the ground at a 53% clip.
The Kernels took advantage of a costly Dayton error in the fourth to plate all three of their runs. Yunior Severino and Dylan Neuse drew back-to-back walks to open the frame before a ground-ball double play seemed to keep the rally at bay. Dayton went to the pen’ with Severino on third, with Will Holland welcoming the reliever to the game by drawing a walk. Wander Javier tapped a two-out chopper to short that skipped off Elly De La Cruz’s glove, scoring Severino. Alerick Soularie followed with an RBI ground-rule double down the right field line then Encarnacion-Strand drew a walk to load the bases. A wild pitch scored Javier, giving the Kernels their 3-0 lead.
Cody Laweryson took over with a pair of runners on in the sixth and promptly retired the first batter he faced with a groundout. The righthander struck out the side in the seventh and went on to toss 2.1 scoreless with five punchouts, allowing just two runners on a hit and a walk to pick up his fifth hold of the season.
Brad Hanner slammed the door with a 1-2-3 ninth to earn the save, striking out one.
Game five of the series is set for 6:35 p.m. on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Cade Povich takes the ball against Christian Roa as the Kernels look to crown themselves First Half Champions on Princess Night.
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