Buxton's walk-off grand slam sinks Bees 7-6
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa. - Byron Buxton hit a walk off grand slam to give the Kernels a 7-6 win over the Burlington Bees on Thursday night. Stepping to the plate with the bases loaded and 1 out, Buxton launched a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall and onto 8th Avenue for the victory in a game that the Bees held the advantage in until Buxton's blast. Travis Harrison, Candido Pimentel, and Tyler Grimes all reached base prior to the game-winning homer, all of the runs coming against Bees reliever Jairo Diaz.
Up until the theatrics in the 9th, the Kernels were hampered by an error-filled 6th inning. Burlington tacked on 3 runs in the frame off of starter Mason Melotakis, and all of them were unearned.
Pedro Toribio led off the inning by rolling a grounder to shortstop, but Jorge Polanco couldn't make the play. Toribio promptly stole second, and Kernels catcher Michael Quesada's throw went into center field so Toribio advanced to third on the same play.
Toribio scored when leadoff man Sherman Johnson grounded a ball to second, and Johnson reached when Pimentel couldn't make the play. Kyle Johnson then singled, Wade Hinkle grounded into a fielder's choice, and Jordan Walsh doubled home both Johnson's two batters later to put the Bees up 4-2.
The Kernels narrowed the deficit in the bottom half of the frame as Polanco walked and later scored on a broken-bat sacrifice fly by Adam Brett Walker.
However, Burlington struck again in the top of the 7th to go up 6-3. Reliever Tim Atherton yielded a leadoff walk to Andrew Ray, third baseman Harrison threw wide of the base on a Wendell Soto sacrifice bunt attempt so Soto reached, and Kyle Johnson knocked in both runners on a 2-RBI single with 2 outs.
Melotakis threw 6 innings, allowing just 3 hits but 4 unearned runs while striking out 3. Atherton struck out 4 Bees hitters in his 2 innings of work and fellow reliever Manuel Soliman (2-1) pitched 1 scoreless inning.
Burlington starter Pat Lowery threw 6 innings. He gave up 3 runs on 6 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4. Kurt Spomer replaced Lowery and Spomer struck out 4 in 2 innings. Diaz (0-1) was charged with the loss.
Quesada - promoted Tuesday morning from extended spring training - finished 2-for-4 with a 2-run homer and is off to a 3-for-7 start to the season.
NEXT GAME:
Friday, May 17 (6:35 p.m.) vs. Kane County Cougars (Chicago Cubs)
Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium
Cedar Rapids: RHP Tyler Duffey (3-1, 2.38) v. Kane County: RHP Dillon Maples (0-0, 5.40)
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