BELOIT, WIS. - Gilberto Celestino's first-pitch leadoff home run and Gabe Snyder's full-count solo shot kicked off the first inning of a 5-2 Cedar Rapids Kernels win Tuesday evening against the Beloit Snappers at Pohlman Field. The game-opening solo shot also started a career-high-tying four-hit performance for Celestino during the
BELOIT, WIS. - Gilberto Celestino's first-pitch leadoff home run and Gabe Snyder's full-count solo shot kicked off the first inning of a 5-2 Cedar Rapids Kernels win Tuesday evening against the Beloit Snappers at Pohlman Field. The game-opening solo shot also started a career-high-tying four-hit performance for Celestino during the series opener.
Celestino and Snyder went back to back and lifted Cedar Rapids (21-16, 60-47) to a 2-0 edge within the first inning. Celestino homered on the first pitch of the contest for his seventh round-tripper of the season. Snyder batted next and delivered his team-high 12th home run. The Kernels improved to a Midwest League-leading 86 blasts after the consecutive clouts.
Trevor Casanova extended the lead to 4-0 Kernels in the third. Celestino led off with a single before Snyder hit a double. Jared Akins loaded the bases on a one-out walk, and Casanova singled to drive in Celestino and Snyder.
Ricky De La Torre scored the final Cedar Rapids run during the sixth. De La Torre collected a two-out single, moved into scoring position after Daniel Ozoria's walk, and came home on Celestino's RBI single for a 5-0 lead. Celestino would reach safely in all five plate appearances Tuesday, going 4-of-4 with a home run and three singles. He was also hit by a pitch once.
The Snappers (14-23, 41-64) broke up the shutout in the final frames. Anthony Churlin's seventh-inning solo blast trimmed the deficit to 5-1. Max Schuemann added a sacrifice fly during the ninth before Cedar Rapids closed out its 5-2 triumph.
Jose Martinez (7-3) notched his team-high seventh victory, and J.T. Perez picked up his first Midwest League save. Martinez tossed three shutout innings in relief following Brian Rapp's no-hit outing in a spot start. Perez yielded only one run late run and received credit for the save.
Angello Infante (1-3) was the losing pitcher in Tuesday's series opener. Infante allowed four runs and six hits over five innings pitched.
This four-game series continues Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. with Kernels left-hander Kody Funderburk (0-1, 3.18) and Snappers left-hander Jhenderson Hurtado (0-0, 2.25) listed as the probable pitchers. Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will call the contest online at www.kmryradio.com and www.kernels.com.
Cedar Rapids will play 14 home games in August beginning Saturday, August 3. 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.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
