Cedar Rapids Tops Beloit, 10-4

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Beloit Snappers scored four runs during a go-ahead rally in the top of the seventh inning Saturday, but the Cedar Rapids Kernels answered with five runs in their half of the frame and held the lead for good en route to a 10-4 victory in front of 3,394 fans at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Beloit (30-41) grabbed its only lead, 4-2, during the seventh. The Snappers had a 2-0 deficit when Ricky Aracena’s sacrifice fly broke up the shutout. After three consecutive batters reached safely to load the bases, Will Banfield hit a three-run double.

The Kernels (40-31) responded by plating eight unanswered runs including five tallies within the seventh. Matt Wallner came home via wild pitch to slice the deficit to 4-3. Two-run doubles later in the inning by Gabriel Maciel and Edouard Julien built a 7-4 lead.

Three more runs in the eighth pushed the final margin to 10-4 Cedar Rapids. Wallner crushed a leadoff solo shot to right field to open the frame. Two-out runs on Daniel Ozoria’s RBI infield single and Julien’s bases-loaded walk capped the scoring. Julien now owns 71 total bases on balls this season to lead all Minor League Baseball players.

Michael Helman scored both Kernels runs that preceded the late innings. He was driven in by Maciel on a second-inning single, and he added a solo home run to right-center field during the fifth. Helman set a new personal best with four total runs within the victory.

Melvi Acosta (1-1) tossed 2.1 scoreless and hitless innings of relief to finish the game and record the win. Ben Gross also turned in a strong performance with five frames of shutout pitching and a career-high-tying eight strikeouts in his start.

Raul Brito (1-1) was tagged for four runs during a losing decision out of the bullpen. Cedar Rapids and Beloit combined for 14 runs Saturday after bringing in just 12 total runs over the previous four tilts this week.

This six-game series closes Sunday afternoon at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Sunday’s finale will begin at 2:05 p.m., and Kernels right-hander Cody Laweryson (0-1, 4.58) will take on Snappers right-hander George Soriano (0-1, 5.14). Fans that are unable to attend the contest can follow the action with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz on www.kernels.com and MiLB.TV.

Great Clips and Z102.9 present Kids Eat Free Sunday. The first 500 fans through the gates will receive a 2021 Cedar Rapids Kernels team photo. Sunday’s promotions also include Baseball Bingo sponsored by the Ox Yoke Inn, and kids can run the bases and play catch in the outfield following the game.

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.