Cedar Rapids takes series with 9-5 win

Clinton, IA - One night after the Clinton LumberKings (7-27, 33-70) battered the MWL leader in ERA to the tune of seven runs in a win, the Cedar Rapids Kernels (20-14, 61-43) returned the favor and hit Clinton starter Tyler Herb (4-8) hard over six innings. Herb allowed six runs, all earned, on nine hits, as Clinton continued its search for its first second half series win with a 9-5 loss Thursday night.

Zach Tillery (ND) did not pitch poorly, but not well enough for the win. The righty went just 3.2 innings, as he walked four and allowed two earned runs. The Kernels staked him to an early lead, as back-to-back opposite field two-out hits by Nick Gordon and Zack Larson made it 1-0 in the top of the first inning. The Kernels did not relinquish the lead despite Clinton's challenges throughout the game.

The Kernels broke it open with a four-run fourth inning. Brett Doe and Tanner English each had an RBI double in the frame, while Alex Real hit a two-run home run, his third home run of the season. Eight men stepped up in the inning, five recorded hits, four of them went for extra bases, as Cedar Rapids led 5-0.

Clinton plated two against Tillery in the fourth and knocked the righty out of the game. Back-to-back two-out RBI doubles by Pat Leyland and James Alfonso made it 2-0, while Ethan Mildren (W, 4-1) recorded the final out in the inning.

Down 6-2 after five innings, Clinton scored a pair in the sixth and one in the seventh and made it a one-run game. Leyland has his second RBI double of the night in the sixth inning and scored two batters later on Martin Peguero's RBI single. Estarlyn Morales made it a one-run game with an RBI groundout in the seventh, but Brock Hebert was caught stealing third base to end the frame as he represented the tying run with Leyland at the plate.

The Kernels upped the lead in the eighth on a two-run home run by Austin Diemer against Ronald Dominguez, his first home run and RBIs of the year, while Hawtin Buchanan allowed a run on a two-out base hit in the ninth. Jared Wilson pitched the final 2.2 innings of shutout relief for Cedar Rapids and closed out the series win.

Austin Cousino and Gianfranco Wawoe each had their respective five-game hit streak snapped, while Hebert and Leyland each had a pair of hits. Eight of the nine Cedar Rapids starters had at least one hit, as four finished with two hits.

The LumberKings now turn their attention to the Burlington Bees, who will begin a three game set in Clinton Friday night at 6:30. Jarrett Brown (1-5, 4.35) and Austin Robichaux (8-4, 3.32) are set to start for Clinton and Burlington respectively. The LumberKings broadcast of the opener can be heard on WCCI 100.3 FM, WCCIRadio.com, and LumberKings.com.