Winder Collars Cougars in 6-0 Shutout

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - Josh Winder recorded the best outing of his professional career Saturday to carry the Cedar Rapids Kernels to a 6-0 triumph against the Kane County Cougars in front of 3,146 fans at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Cedar Rapids (4-5, 43-36) also claimed a 1-0 advantage in this three-game series.
Winder (6-1) fired eight strikeouts over a career-high-tying eight innings within his team-leading sixth victory. He gave up three hits but did not allow any runs or walks in his longest shutout appearance as a professional pitcher. Winder is now on a six-game quality start streak and tops the Kernels with eight total quality starts. Brian Rapp replaced him for the ninth inning and completed the three-hit shutout with a scoreless frame.

Estamy Urena secured an eight-game hit streak and tallied the final runs of a 6-0 Kernels win. Ureña doubled in the second inning before scoring on Yeltsin Encarnacion's RBI groundout, and he singled during the fourth prior to coming home on a single from Jacob Pearson. Ureña tied a career high with three hits and is batting .423 (11-of-26) in this eight-game stretch.
The Kernels quickly jumped in front, 4-0, within the first. Pearson hit a leadoff triple and scored when Encarnacion followed with a single. Later in the inning, Gilberto Celestino cleared the bases on a three-run double.
Ryan Weiss (2-5) was the losing pitcher for Kane County (7-2, 42-36). Weiss surrendered a personal-high six earned runs over five innings pitched.
This three-game series continues at 2:05 p.m. Sunday afternoon. The probable pitchers for the game are Kernels right-hander Andrew Cabezas (2-5, 4.47) and Cougars right-hander Levi Kelly (3-0, 2.98). Coverage with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will be available on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com, www.kernels.com, and MiLB.TV.
State Fair Weekend includes an appearance from the Hovick Family Farm Petting Zoo and prize giveaways from the Iowa State Fair. All kids aged 12 and under will receive a voucher for a free hot dog, popcorn, and drink on Western Fraternal Life Kids Eat Free Sunday. After the contest, fans can run the bases, play catch in the outfield, and get autographs from the Kernels courtesy of Prairie Farms and 104.5 KDAT. Travel Advisors Baseball Bingo features a chance to win a trip to Minneapolis to watch a Minnesota Twins game. Face Painting by Kennedy and Papa Balloon will also be at the ballpark.
Fans can purchase tickets for all Cedar Rapids Kernels home games by visiting www.kernels.com, going to the Kernels Ticket Office, or calling (319) 896-7560. The Kernels Ticket Office is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. On Sundays when the Kernels have a home game, the Kernels Ticket Office will open at 11:00 a.m.