Frank Nigro walks off Dragons in series finale
Cedar Rapids, IA – Cedar Rapids catcher Frank Nigro walked off the Dayton Dragons 4-3 with an RBI single down the right field line on Sunday afternoon, earning the Kernels their eighth series win. Nigro went 2-for-4 and threw out a runner attempting to steal as part of a terrific
Cedar Rapids, IA – Cedar Rapids catcher Frank Nigro walked off the Dayton Dragons 4-3 with an RBI single down the right field line on Sunday afternoon, earning the Kernels their eighth series win. Nigro went 2-for-4 and threw out a runner attempting to steal as part of a terrific full-season debut while Kennie Taylor reached base three times and scored three runs in the series finale. The Kernels improve to 41-22 on the season, setting a new mark for their best record of the year at 19 games over .500.
Sean Mooney threw very well in a no-decision, striking out six over 5.0 innings of two-run ball. The righthander scattered five hits and two walks, piling up 19 swinging strikes on 74 pitches.
Dayton opened the scoring with a solo home run in the first. Alerick Soularie set the tone early in the home half with a double blasted out to right-center, advancing to third on a Kyler Fedko flyout to right. Yunior Severino plated Soularie with a ground ball to second that was misplayed, knotting the game at one a piece.
Cedar Rapids took their first lead of the game in the second as Taylor drew a one-out walk followed by Nigro singling to short in his first Kernels at-bat. Following a popout, Fedko brought Taylor home with an RBI single dumped into shallow right for the 2-1 advantage.
The Dragons tied things up with a run in the fourth, keeping the game deadlocked at two until they added another solo shot in the seventh. Down 3-2 after the stretch, Taylor led off with a walk and alertly moved to second on a passed ball. Soularie promptly laced a game-tying single into left-center, resetting the stage for a thrilling conclusion.
Ryan Shreve got the Kernels out of a jam in the ninth, entering with two down and two men in scoring position, promptly fanning the lone hitter he faced on three pitches. Taylor opened the ninth with a double rocketed to right-center, then Nigro walked it off with a line shot down the right field line.
The Kernels are idle Monday before beginning a six-game series against the West Michigan Whitecaps on Tuesday at Veterans Memorial Stadium with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch.
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