Kernels Out Slug Captains 9-7

(Eastlake, OH) - Cedar Rapids (18-8) scored two runs in the eighth inning to defeat the Captains (13-13) by a final of 9-7. In the inning, eight men came to bat and the Kernels used just one hit, two walks and a hit batter along with an error to push the insurance runs across home plate. The sacrifice fly by Jorge Polanco plated the first run. Also in the inning, an RBI was credited to Adam Brett Walker. The Captains have now fall to .500

Cedar Rapids scored first. In the bottom of the third inning, Jonathan Murphy blasted his first homerun of the season over the left field wall and the score was 1-0. Lake County came right back to grab the lead. Joe Sever hit his fifth homerun of the season, the two-run homer put the Captains ahead 2-1.

The Kernels scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning. In the inning, Cedar Rapids sent 10 men to the plate in the inning. The big hit in the inning was a two run single from Jonathan Murphy. In all, Cedar Rapids had five hits, two walks and one sac fly in the inning to plate five runs.

In the bottom of the fifth, Logan Vick walked, stole second base, and scored on a double by Joe Sever. The score was 6-3. Lake County used two homeruns in the bottom of the sixth to claw even farther back into the ballgame. A solo homerun from Jeremy Lucas led off the inning, and then a two out solo homerun by Yhoxian Medina made the score 6-5. The homer for Medina was his first of his career.

In the seventh inning it became a 7-5 game as the Kernels added on. Max Kepler walked and eventually came around to score on a base hit from Tyler Grimes and the lead was pushed back to two runs. In the bottom of the seventh, with one out, Logan Vick doubled. Vick came around to score on a two-bagger by Erik Gonzalez and the score was back to a one run game it was 7-6.

With the score 9-6, Anthony Santander blasted the fourth homerun of the night to get the Captains back within two runs. The score was 9-7 Cedar Rapids after eight innings.

Luis Dejesus (3-10) started the game for Lake County and took the loss. Dejesus pitched five innings and allowed six earned runs on seven hits. Dejesus walked five and fanned two. Jimmy Stokes pitched two and one third innings of relief for the Captains, and allowed three hits, and three earned runs. Stokes allowed three walks. Felis Sterling pitched the final one and two thirds innings of scoreless baseball. Felis just allowed one hit.

Cedar Rapids sent LHP Josue Montanez (4-2) to the mound to start the game. Montanez pitched six innings and allowed seven hits, five runs, three earned runs. He walked three and struck out six. Montanez allowed three homeruns. Montanez earned the win. The Cedar Rapids bullpen pitched three innings in relief and allowed two earned runs on five hits. Madison Boer earned his first save of the season for the Kernels.

Friday is a Fireworks Friday Night, and there will be a post-game fireworks extravaganza presented by Universal Windows Direct. The game is also the annual Italian Heritage Night and the Captains will feature traditional Italian fare for sale, including Cavatelli, Italian Sausage and Connolis. There will be a pre-game bocce ball tournament and the Italian National Anthem will be sung prior to the game. The Captains will wear Italian soccer themed jerseys for the game and fans will have the opportunity to bid on the jerseys and take them off the player's backs during a post-game on-field presentation. All jersey auction proceeds benefit Captains Charities. 

The Captains Friday Night Concert Series continues with Driven, a powerful, high energy eight-piece band featuring a dynamic lead vocalist and powerful horn section. They will perform on stage adjacent to Castaways Bar, following the fireworks show. 

On Friday night, The Cedar Rapids Kernels will stay in Eastlake for the finale of a three game series. RHP Jake Sisco (4-6, 3.75) will get the start for the Captains. The Kernels will counter with LHP Brett Lee (6-4, 3.54). First Pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM from Classic Park.

Individual game tickets for these, and all Captains games, may be purchased at the Captains official website www.CaptainsBaseball.com.