Romero Rolls Over Cougars, 6-0
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - Right-hander Fernando Romero tossed a career-high seven shutout innings to lead the Cedar Rapids Kernels to a 6-0 win Wednesday over the Kane County Cougars at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Romero, the No. 17 Minnesota Twins prospect according to MLB Pipeline, earned his fourth straight victory in as many starts this year.
The Kernels stayed in first place in the Midwest League Western Division standings and improved to 33-25 with the win. Cedar Rapids also claimed an early series victory over the Cougars (27-31) and could sweep this three-game set in Thursday's finale.
Romero needed only 69 pitches to record seven scoreless innings. He tallied a career-high seven strikeouts and only allowed one runner to reached third base during his shutout start. Romero also received credit for his third career quality start and his second consecutive quality start.
Cedar Rapids jumped to a 3-0 lead after a two-out rally in the first inning. LaMonte Wade kept the inning alive with a two-out walk and scored on an RBI double by Zander Wiel. A.J. Murray followed with a two-run home run down the left-field line. Murray's team-high sixth round-tripper of the year capped the scoring in Cedar Rapids' early rally.
During the bottom of the seventh, the Kernels doubled their lead to 6-0. A one-out RBI single by J.J. Fernandez drove in Daniel Kihle. Two batters later, Luis Arraez hit a two-out RBI single that allowed Fernandez to score. Sean Miller came up next and delivered a double that brought in Arraez for the six-run advantage.
Michael Cederoth followed Romero with two scoreless frames of relief to cap the combined shutout. Cederoth stranded two runners and picked up a pair of strikeouts in a non-save situation.
The win pushed Romero's record to 4-0 while Kane County's Carlos Hernandez fell to 3-5 as the losing pitcher. Hernandez posted a game-high eight strikeouts in a quality start, allowing three runs over six innings in the defeat.
Thursday's series finale starts at 6:35 p.m. with Kernels right-hander Miles Nordgren (2-2, 3.71 ERA) set to pitch against Cougars right-hander Joel Payamps (2-3, 2.68 ERA). Catch all of the action with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and online at www.kmryradio.com, www.kernels.com and MiLB.TV.
Especially for You Night, featuring postgame fireworks, is scheduled for Thursday. The Kernels will wear special jerseys that will be auctioned off during the game to benefit the Especially for You Walk. Storybook princesses Anna, Elsa, Cinderella and Snow White will be on the main concourse as part of Daddy-Daughter Date Night. Fans aged 18 and older can register to win one of three 32" flat screen TVs given away on First Federal Credit Union Flat Screen Thursday. 12 oz. regular draft beer and 20 oz. bottled soda and water are just $2 each for Z 102.9 Thirsty Thursday. Little Caesars College Night offers an $8 deal for a Club ticket and two slices of Little Caesars pizza to students that show a valid college ID at the Kernels Ticket Office.
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.