CEDAR RAPIDS EVENS WESTERN DIVISION PLAYOFF SERIES

*Cedar Rapids, IA – *Faced with elimination from the Midwest League’s Western Division championship series, the Kernels did what they needed to do in game two of the best-of-three series. Cedar Rapids rallied for a 5-3 victory over the South Bend Cubs at Perfect Game at Veterans Stadium.

The Kernels scored three runs on one hit in the fifth inning, taking advantage of erratic South Bend pitching. Brooks Lee led off the inning with a double and Pat Winkel followed with a walk.

After a pair of fly outs, Willie Joe Garry, Jr., and Jefferson Morales each drew bases on balls as the Kernels tied the score at 3-3. The go-ahead run scored one batter later when Mikey Perez was hit by a pitch. Then, South Bend pitcher Joe Nahas was called for a balk with the bases loaded, a mistake that allowed Cedar Rapids’ to score its fifth run.

After taking the two-run lead in the fifth, Kernels’ pitchers retired 12 of the final 13 South Bend batters to secure the victory and force the deciding third game.

Cedar Rapids will host game three of the Western Division title series Friday night, with first pitch at 6:35 p.m. at Perfect Game at Veterans Stadium. Playoff tickets are on sale now through the Kernels’ ticket office or at www.kernels.com.

The winner of Friday’s game advances to the Midwest League championship series, which begins Sunday.

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