Clinton Splits Series with 7-2 Win

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - On a sunny Sunday afternoon, the Clinton LumberKings earned a series split at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium by defeating the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 7-2. Cedar Rapids finished its four-game home series with a 2-2 mark against Clinton.

Chris Mariscal put Clinton (6-4) ahead quickly in the first inning. After Dereck Rodriguez struck out Rafael Fernandez, Mariscal drove a one-out solo home run to left-center field. His first home run this year gave the LumberKings a 1-0 lead.

The Kernels (7-4) tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning with a timely hit from Bryant Hayman. Zander Wiel opened the inning with a single and was at third base when Hayman delivered a two-out RBI single that tied the contest.

A turning point in Sunday's tilt came in the bottom of the sixth when the Kernels were threatening to take the lead. Clinton reliever Vinny Nittoli inherited two runners with just one out in the frame and the game still tied. Nittoli struck out J.J. Fernandez and caught a comebacker off Hayman's bat to keep Cedar Rapids from scoring.

The LumberKings capitalized on their big stop and scored six total runs over the last three innings. Rafael Fernandez's RBI single put Clinton back on top in the seventh. Braden Bishop followed by scoring with a wild pitch before Mariscal produced a sacrifice fly. In the eighth inning, Logan Taylor added a two-run single. Dalton Kelly came home in the top of the ninth on another wild pitch to cushion the advantage.

Manuel Guzman was responsible for the only Kernels run in the final frames. He reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the seventh and eventually scored during a wild pitch. Cedar Rapids was put down in order to end the eighth inning and left a runner aboard in a scoreless ninth inning.

Nittoli claimed the victory in Clinton's 7-2 triumph. He is now 1-0 this year after allowing only one unearned run in 1.2 innings pitched. Rodriguez took the loss to fall to 0-2, giving up four runs - three earned - over a team-season-high 6.1 innings in a quality start.

LaMonte Wade also extended his career-high and Midwest League-leading hit streak to 11 straight games to begin the season. Wade's leadoff single in the sixth inning was his only base hit in a 1-for-4 finish at the plate.

Cedar Rapids now opens a week-long road swing Monday at the Burlington Bees. Monday's opener to a three-game series is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Community Field with Kernels right-hander Cody Stashak (0-0, 2.25 ERA) squaring off against Bees right-hander Joe Gatto (0-1, 4.50 ERA). Listen to all of the exciting Midwest League action with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com and www.kernels.com.

The next Kernels homestand takes place from Tuesday, April 26 through Sunday, May 1. Tickets for all Kernels home games and the 2016 Midwest League All-Star Game are available at www.kernels.com, the Kernels Ticket Office and by calling (319) 896-7560. The Kernels Ticket Office is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. The ticket office is closed on Sundays except on Kernels Sunday home dates when it will open at 11:00 a.m.