Arias Nearly Hits for Cycle in 5-3 Victory

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - Jean Carlos Arias crushed a towering home run Saturday and finished a double shy of hitting for the cycle as the Cedar Rapids Kernels defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 5-3, in front of 3,940 fans at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Blayne Enlow notched his first professional save to cap Cedar Rapids' third consecutive victory.
The Kernels (3-0, 35-37) scored four runs during the third inning for a 4-0 lead. After back-to-back singles from Robert Molina and Jordan Gore, Jacob Pearson hit an RBI double off the left-field wall. Arias followed with a three-run blast to right field on the next pitch.

Wisconsin (0-3, 31-41) chipped away over the next two frames and sliced its deficit to 4-3. Jay Feliciano drove in KJ Harrison on an RBI double in the fourth inning. Robert Henry produced a run-scoring single early in the fifth, and Kenny Corey added an RBI force out near the end of the frame.
Both sides turned away quality scoring chances in the middle of the contest. Cedar Rapids loaded the bases with three straight singles within the bottom of the fifth, but a fly out and a double play kept the Kernels from extending their lead. Gabriel Garcia tripled for Wisconsin in the sixth but was thrown out at home plate on a groundball to Jordan Gore.
Royce Lewis secured a career-best eight-game hit streak while driving in a critical insurance run during the seventh. After a two-out triple by Arias, Lewis bounced an infield single to third-base side that pushed the Kernels' lead to 5-3.
Enlow tossed four shutout innings to save the contest and helped Jordan Balazovic (2-1) garner the victory. Balazovic registered a game-high nine strikeouts and earned his second triumph in as many starts against Wisconsin.
Nelson Hernandez was the losing pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. He gave up four runs in five innings pitched and tallied a team-high-tying three strikeouts.
The series finale between Cedar Rapids and Wisconsin will begin at 2:05 p.m. Sunday. Kernels right-hander Brusdar Graterol (2-2, 2.48) and Timber Rattlers right-hander Carlos Herrera (1-4, 4.50) are the probable pitchers. Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will call the game 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 continues with special foods and carnival games at the ballpark. Western Fraternal Life Kids Eat Free Sunday offers all kids aged 12 and under a voucher for a free hot dog, popcorn, and 12 oz. soda or bottled water. 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 includes a chance to win a trip to Minneapolis to see a Minnesota Twins game. Hovick Family Farms Petting Zoo, Face Painting by Kennedy and Papa Balloon will also be at Sunday's tilt.
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.