Captains Top Kernels in 11 Innings

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - The Lake County Captains rallied for a 4-3, 11-inning victory Thursday against the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Captains shortstop Luke Wakamatsu drove in the game-tying and go-ahead runs for Lake County (10-16) to avoid a sweep. Cedar Rapids (15-11) won the series by a 2-1 margin.
Wakamatsu, son of 1987 Cedar Rapids Reds catcher Don Wakamatsu, tied the contest in the ninth inning and plated the decisive run in the 11^th. His one-out, ninth-inning double allowed Conner Capel to score the tying run. During the 11^th, he singled to bring in pinch-runner Jorma Rodriguez and push the Captains to a 4-3 lead.

Cedar Rapids failed to score in the final three innings even after loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth. The bases were full with no outs before Captains right-hander Ryder Ryan picked up two strikeouts and induced an inning-ending groundout. The Kernels were hitless in their last nine at-bats against Ryan and fellow right-hander Dalbert Siri, who pitched a perfect 11^th inning to close Lake County's win.
Christian Cavaness lifted the Kernels to a 3-2 lead during the eighth inning prior to Wakamatsu's heroics. Cavaness hit a towering solo shot to right field for his first professional home run, which gave Cedar Rapids a late lead in Thursday's tilt.
Before Cavaness' blast, Cedar Rapids and Lake County each plated two runs. Lewin Diaz drove the Kernels to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI double. Emmanuel Tapia produced a two-run double in the top of the fourth for a 2-1 Captains edge. Cavaness tied the game in the fifth with an RBI double. He went 2-for-4 Thursday with a home run and two runs batted in.
Ryan (1-2) earned the victory while Siri picked up his first save of the season. Kernels right-hander Logan Lombana (0-1) took the loss after giving up the go-ahead run in the 11^th. Also, Jermaine Palacios' Midwest League-high-tying 15-game hit streak came to a close following an 0-for-5 night at the plate.
Next, Cedar Rapids continues its six-game homestand with a three-game series against the Fort Wayne TinCaps. Friday's series opener is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with Kernels right-hander Sean Poppen (0-0, 1.67) and TinCaps right-hander Austin Smith (1-1, 5.40) expected to start the game. Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will call the action on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com, www.kernels.com, and MiLB.TV.
Friday is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Theme Night, featuring Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 t-shirts that will be handed out to the first 1,000 fans through the gates. Stadium Bar & Grill, Shuey's Restaurant & Lounge, Red's Public House, Mulligan's Pub, and Z 102.9 sponsor the Kernels Friday Mug Club. A refillable 16 oz. mug of regular draft beer or soda costs $6, and fans can use their souvenir mug for $3 refills at any Friday home game this season.
Fans can purchase tickets for all 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 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.