Kernels Pitching Limits LumberKings In Series Opener

Cedar Rapids, IA - Andro Cutura (2-0) gave up just one earned run over six innings, striking out six in the process, as Cedar Rapids (6-2) allowed just five hits, downing the LumberKings (4-3) 7-3 in the series opener Thursday night at Perfect Game Field in Cedar Rapids.

The LumberKings got started fast, as Luis Liberato walked to leadoff the ballgame. After Braden Bishop hit into a fielders choice, Dalton Kelly smacked a payoff pitch off of Cutura down the left field line, scoring Bishop to make it 1-0 Clinton. Yet the Kernels would strike right back in the bottom of the first, as leadoff man Luis Arreaz lead off the game with a home run after a ten pitch battle with LumberKings starter Zack Littell (0-1). Second place hitter Rafael Valera singled up the middle, and third place hitter LaMonte Wade singled to right field, allowing Valera to go first to third. Max Murphy walked to load the bases with nobody out, bringing up A.J. Murray. Murray hit a sacrifice fly that scored Valera, and J.J. Fernandez followed with an RBI ground out that scored Wade to make it 3-1 Kernels after one.

Clinton would scratch out a run in the third, as Luis Liberato reached on a fielding error from first baseman J.J. Fernandez with one out. With Braden Bishop up, Andro Cutura threw a wild pitch, advancing Liberato to second. Bishop then roped a single to left, scoring Liberato to cut the deficit to 3-2. Dalton Kelly walked, and a ground out from Gus Craig put Bishop at third and Kelly at second with two outs for Logan Taylor. Taylor couldn't do anything with the opportunity, grounding out to third to end the frame.

Cedar Rapids would break it open in the fifth, as Sean Miller lead off the frame with a single. After Zack Littell struck out Christian Caveness looking, Luis Arreaz singled to bring up Rafael Valera. Valera bounced a ball that just stayed fair inside the first base line, going for a triple and scoring both runners to make it 5-2 Kernels. LaMonte Wade stepped up next and doubled off the right field wall, scoring Valera easily to make it 6-2 Kernels.

Zack Littell would complete five innings, but would give up six earned runs on nine hits in the process, walking one and striking out three. Dylan Silva relieved him, giving up a run on a two out single from Luis Arreaz to increase the Cedar Rapids lead to 7-3. The deficit could have been worse had Braden Bishop not thrown out Christian Cavaness at home trying to score on Arreaz's hit.

The LumberKings had one last gasp in the eighth, as they loaded the bases with one out against reliever C.K. Irby, courtesy of s Braden Bishop walk, and back to back singles by Dalton Kelly and Gus Craig. With the bases packed, Logan Taylor reached on a fielding error from Irby, scoring Bishop to make it 7-3 and keep the bases loaded. But that's all the LumberKings would get, as Rayder Ascanio struck out looking and Chris Mariscal flew out to left to end the threat.

The LumberKings and Kernels get back at it tomorrow in Cedar Rapids at 6:35 PM, as Clinton sends Kyle Wilcox (0-0, 3.60 ERA) to the mound against Sam Gibbons (1-0, 1.80 ERA). Greg Mroz will have the call on WCCI 100.3 FM and on www.wcciradio.com beginning at 6:20 PM with the Iowa Pork Producers Pregame Show.