Double plays doom Kernels in 5-3 loss to Quad Cities

Cedar Rapids, IA – The Cedar Rapids Kernels bounced into three double plays and went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position as they fell 5-3 to the Quad Cities River Bandits on Wednesday evening. Pat Winkel provided a three-hit night while Jake Rucker drove in all three Kernels runs in the loss. The Kernels fall to 46-31, 3-8 in the second half.

Cade Povich tied a career-high with 11 strikeouts in a hard-luck loss, going 5.0 innings and scattering seven hits while walking none. He allowed five runs – three earned – with four coming on a pair of two-run homers. The lefthander piled up 19 swinging strikes on 90 pitches, throwing 69 strikes and working at a 70.8% first-pitch strike rate.

Rucker put the Kernels ahead early in the second, plating Will Holland and Dylan Neuse with a rocket two-run double blistered into left-center field.

Quad Cities would plate a pair in the fourth and fifth on two two-run home runs, adding one more run in the sixth to go up 5-2. Rucker brought the Kernels within two with a sacrifice fly in the home half, but the lineup couldn’t muster any more against the QC bullpen.

Hunter McMahon struck out one over 2.0 scoreless relief innings while Bobby Milacki added four punchouts across 2.0 shutout frames of his own to finish things out for the Kernels.

Game three of the series is set for 6:35 p.m. CT on Thursday evening at Veterans Memorial Stadium with another Big Screen Thursday presented by First Federal Credit Union.

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