Twin Bill Opener Won by Quad Cities

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - In game one of a day-night doubleheader Wednesday, the Cedar Rapids Kernels started a late rally but lost to the Quad Cities River Bandits, 6-2, in front of 2,813 fans at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Game two of the twin bill between Cedar Rapids (17-16) and Quad Cities (20-17) is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Wednesday evening.
Cristian Javier (2-1) registered a career-high-tying 10 strikeouts and took a no-hitter into the fifth inning during a game one victory. With the exception of two walks to Royce Lewis, Javier was perfect over his first four frames. His 10 strikeouts Wednesday tied a career high that was set August 26, 2017 against the Kernels at Modern Woodmen Park.

Quad Cities tallied most of its offense in the top of the second to take a 5-0 lead. After back-to-back errors to start the frame, Bryan De La Cruz opened the scoring with an RBI single. Two batters later, Michael Papierski added a two-run single. Cody Bohanek followed with a two-run home run to left field. All five runs in the inning were unearned.
The Kernels broke up the no-hitter within the fifth and sliced their deficit to 5-2. Ben Rortvedt collected his first professional triple with one out in the frame. Jose Miranda drove in Rortvedt with an RBI double and scored on Akil Baddoo's RBI double.
Adam Bleday replaced Javier in the sixth inning and kept the Kernels scoreless through the end of the contest for his first save of the season. Bleday opened his relief appearance by inducing a groundout from Alex Kirilloff, who went 0-of-3 to end a career-long 14-game hit streak.
Colton Shaver increased Quad Cities' lead to 6-2 during the top of the seventh. Shaver launched a solo homer to left field to cap the scoring within game one.
Tyler Watson (2-2) was the losing pitcher for Cedar Rapids in the twin bill opener. Watson pitched five innings and gave up five unearned runs.
Game two of Wednesday's day-night doubleheader will be played at 6:35 p.m., and Kernels right-hander Randy Dobnak (3-1, 4.91) will pitch against River Bandits right-hander Luis Garcia (1-1, 1.64). Broadcast coverage is available on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com, www.kernels.com, and MiLB.TV.
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.