Cougars Roar Back for Series-Ending Win

GENEVA, ILL. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels and the Kane County Cougars traded leads in the eighth inning Monday, and the Cougars came out with a 3-2 win at Northwestern Medicine Field on Memorial Day. This four-game series ended as a 2-2 split. Cedar Rapids' lead atop the Western Division standings was cut to one game.
Monday's tilt started as a pitchers' duel between Kane County's Jon Duplantier and Cedar Rapids' Clark Beeker. Duplantier tossed six shutout innings with six strikeouts while allowing just one hit. He also retired the final 15 batters that he faced. Beeker also recorded six innings of work, giving up one run while adding five strikeouts.

The Cougars (27-22) took a 1-0 lead against Beeker in the sixth inning. Mark Karaviotis reached on a one-out single and scored when Ramon Hernandez knocked an RBI triple into right-center field. It was Hernandez's first triple this season.
Ben Rortvedt lifted the Kernels (29-22) in front, 2-1, during the top of the eighth. 18 consecutive Cedar Rapids hitters had been retired between Duplantier and Tyler Mark, but Mark hit Travis Blankenhorn to open the inning. Caleb Hamilton doubled ahead of Rortvedt, who placed a two-run single into left-center field that provided the Kernels with their first lead of the game.
Kane County answered in its half of the eighth, grabbing a 3-2 advantage. With two outs and Karaviotis at first base, Jose Herrera doubled off Patrick McGuff to tie the game. Manny Jefferson followed with a go-ahead single, which was the decisive hit from Monday's contest.
Cedar Rapids tried to rally during the ninth but lost by a run. Lewin Diaz drew a two-out walk to keep the game alive. Jaylin Davis entered as a pinch-hitter but struck out against Ryan Burr to end Kane County's 3-2 win.
Mark (2-1) was tagged for a blown save and a victory Monday. McGuff (0-1) had a blown save and the loss. Burr picked up his third save of the season and his second save within the four-game split.
Coming up, Cedar Rapids starts a three-game homestand Tuesday against the Quad Cities River Bandits. Tuesday's opener is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with right-hander Eduardo Del Rosario (4-2, 4.47) on the mound for the Kernels. Tune in to the coverage on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com, www.kernels.com, and MiLB.TV.
Great Clips Twins Tuesday features special Minnesota Twins-themed Kernels jerseys that will be sold via silent auction September 1 in the 2017 home finale. Fans can get a 2-for-1 ticket coupon for Tuesday's game online from the Kernels' Facebook page or email newsletter. Plus, one lucky fan at Tuesday's contest will win a pair of Minnesota Twins tickets.
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.