Kernels Top Hot Rods Friday, 8-2
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - The Cedar Rapids Kernels notched an 8-2 win Friday against the Bowling Green Hot Rods to close a three-game series at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Jaylin Davis crushed a three-run home run for the Kernels while Sean Miller and Luis Arraez each drove in two runs within the contest.
The Kernels (16-12, 52-45) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Manuel Guzman and Christian Cavaness both recorded one-out singles before Miller hit a single of his own to bring in Guzman. Cavaness scored during a groundout from Arraez.
During a five-run fifth inning, Cedar Rapids stretched its lead to 7-0. Miller opened the scoring with an RBI single that was followed by an RBI double by Arraez. After a walk to Zander Wiel, Davis blasted a three-run homer. It was Davis' fourth Kernels round-tripper and 11th total home run this season.
Davis' drive officially ended Genesis Cabrera's latest start for Bowling Green (17-10, 54-42). Cabrera, who pitched in Cedar Rapids last month in the 2016 Midwest League All-Star Game, surrendered a career-high seven runs over 4.1 innings pitched.
The Hot Rods cut their deficit to 7-2 in the seventh after back-to-back home runs. Brett Sullivan led off with his 11th clout of the season, which was his first blast since winning the All-Star Home Run Derby. Manny Sanchez came up next and hit his 10th Hot Rods homer. That gave Sanchez a five-game home run streak, tying a franchise record set in 2011 by Derek Dietrich.
Bowling Green's home runs were the only tallies allowed by Cedar Rapids' Sam Gibbons in Friday's finale. Gibbons posted a season-high seven innings while holding the Hot Rods to just two runs.
Cedar Rapids scored a final run in the home half of the seventh inning for an 8-2 advantage. Wiel singled and advanced to third base on a double by Davis to set up a sacrifice fly from J.J. Fernandez.
Gibbons lifted his record to 4-3 as the winning pitcher, and Cabrera slipped to 7-4 with the loss. Bowling Green officially won this three-game series by a 2-1 margin after Cedar Rapids' victory in the finale.
Up next, Cedar Rapids will host the Dayton Dragons at 6:35 p.m. Saturday night. Kernels right-hander Eddie Del Rosario (2-2, 5.27 ERA) is scheduled to face Dragons right-hander Jose Lopez (6-8, 3.59 ERA). Catch the all of the coverage 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.
Saturday's activities include a postgame fireworks display and the Kernels' annual ADA Celebration Night at the Ballpark. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for the 6:35 p.m. contest, which opens a three-game series between the Kernels and the Dragons.
Tickets for all Kernels home games 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.