Kernels explode in 14-run inning
The Kernels sent 20 men to the plate and scored 14 runs in the seventh inning, erasing an eight-run deficit on their way to an 18-11 victory over the Lake County Captains.
"That was unbelievable," Mosiello told The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette.
With the Kernels behind, 11-3, Jon Karcich led off the seventh against reliever Nickolas Sarianides, who had recorded the final two outs in the sixth. Karcich and Jose Jimenez singled before Michael Wing flied to center field for the first out.
Jean Segura tripled home two runs, then scored on Matt Long's double. Jeremy Cruz reached on an error by third baseman Kyle Smith and Casey Haerther drove him in with a double to center, ending Sarianides' afternoon. He was charged with six runs -- five earned -- on six hits in one inning.
Ryan Morris walked the first batter he faced, Richard Cates, then gave up a triple to Justin Bass, who scored on a wild pitch. Karcich, who started the inning, blasted a solo shot to put the Kernels in front, 12-11.
Morris (0-1) fanned Jimenez for the second out, but allowed two singles and hit a batter to load the bases before giving way to Jose Flores.
Flores allowed three singles and two walks, including a free pass to Karcich in his third plate appearance of the frame -- before getting Jimenez to ground out.
"I've never seen a guy come to the plate three times in an inning. Ever," Mosiello, in his second season with Cedar Rapids, told the newspaper. "And this was two guys that did it. We actually had a guy in position to have three hits. Karcich has two hits and a walk. It was uncharted water there."
The Kernels collected a homer, two triples, two doubles and seven singles while taking advantage of three walks, a wild pitch, a hit batter and an error in the inning. Neither the Cedar Rapids media guide nor the Midwest League record book includes records for runs in an inning.
"A lot of good at-bats," Karcich told The Gazette. "We were squaring up the ball, finding holes, hitting gappers, infield hits, errors. We took advantage of everything -- walks, hit by pitches, all that stuff. We just kept hitting."
Segura tripled again in the eighth and capped the scoring on Long's one-out single.
Four Kernels finished with three hits apiece, while four others racked up a pair. Cates was held to a single, but he drove in three runs.
The 18 runs and 21 hits were both season highs for the Kernels, who snapped a three-game losing streak. The first-half Western Division champions lead the Midwest League with a .273 batting average.
Lake County had jumped out to an early lead, scoring five runs on six hits in the opening inning. The Captains added a run in the second and three more in the fifth as Adam Abraham slugged a pair of two-run homers.