Kernels Best Sky Carp 7-1 in All-Around Sunday Victory

BELOIT, Wis - The Kernels offense scored a series-high seven runs Sunday afternoon while the Cedar Rapids pitching staff held Beloit to just one run on three hits in a 7-1 win over the Sky Carp.

After not leading in the loss on Saturday, the Kernels opened the scoring on Sunday. Singles from Luis Fragoza and Quinn McDaniel around a Danny De Andrade walk loaded the bases before an error plated the game’s first run to put Cedar Rapids on top 1-0.

The Sky Carp pulled even in the bottom of the fourth. Dillon Head singled to start the inning, and after he moved to second on a groundout, he scored on a Cody Schrier RBI single to tie the game, 1-1.

That was the last hit from the Beloit offense on the afternoon. Kernels starter Cesar Lares went five strong innings, allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts en route to his first high-A win. Behind him, the Cedar Rapids bullpen, combined between Ross Dunn and Michael Ross, did not allow a hit across four scoreless innings to lock down the victory.

In the top of the sixth, the Kernels jumped back in front. Walks to Luis Fragoza, De Andrade and McDaniel loaded the bases with no one out. Bases-loaded walks from Irvin Nunez and Byron Chourio pushed across two runs to make it 3-1. With the bases still loaded, JP Smith II drove in two more with a two-run single, and behind him, Yasser Mercedes capped off the five-run inning with an RBI double to put Cedar Rapids in front 6-1.

Cedar Rapids added on in the seventh. De Andrade doubled to begin the inning, and after a groundout moved him to third, he scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 7-1, the score that would be the final.

The win improves Cedar Rapids to 45-73 on the season and snaps the Kernels eight-game losing streak. CR returns home to open up the final homestand of the season Tuesday at 6:35 against Lake County. Both starters are TBD.