Kernels Blow Out Beloit, 12-2, Sunday

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - The Cedar Rapids Kernels erupted for a season-high 23 hits Sunday and grabbed a 10-2 win against the Beloit Snappers in front of 3,715 fans at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. All 10 Kernels batters reached safely, and Travis Blankenhorn and Royce Lewis each collected a career-high-tying four hits. The run support helped Tyler Beardsley earn the victory and put Cedar Rapids up by a 3-0 margin in this four-game series.
The Kernels (28-28, 67-59) built an early 3-0 lead with lone tallies during the first, third, and fourth innings. Lewin Diaz opened the scoring with a first-inning RBI single that drove in Lewis. Jimmy Kerrigan's RBI double in the second plated Christian Cavaness. Kerrigan also added an RBI single within the fourth to bring in Shane Carrier.

In the fifth inning, Cedar Rapids exploded for six runs and stretched the lead to 9-0. Diaz posted a two-run double before Caleb Hamilton delivered an RBI single. Cavaness registered an RBI groundout, and Lewis and Blankenhorn each tallied two-out RBI singles in the rally.
Beloit (27-28, 66-60) broke up the shutout in the sixth and trimmed its deficit to 9-1. Kyle Nowlin led off with a double, and Miguel Mercedes followed with a double of his own to plate Nowlin.
Aaron Whitefield answered for the Kernels during the seventh inning and put the lead at 10-1. Lewis extended the inning with a single, and Blankenhorn singled to move Lewis to third base. Whitefield drove in Lewis with a two-out RBI single.
The Snappers tallied another run in the eighth, but Cedar Rapids responded with two home runs later in the frame. Two-out doubles by Eric Mariñez and Jesus Lopez cut the Kernels' lead to 10-2. Within the bottom of the eighth, Carrier and Joe Cronin each hit solo homers and drove Cedar Rapids to its winning margin of 12-2.
Beardsley (4-7) tossed a quality start and grabbed the victory against Beloit's Kyle Twomey (2-4). Beardsley gave up eight hits but only allowed one run over six innings pitched to garner his first win since May 3 against the Lake County Captains. Twomey was tagged for six runs and a career-high 12 hits over four-plus frames in a losing decision.
The series finale between Cedar Rapids and Beloit will be played at 12:05 p.m. Monday. Kernels left-hander Bryan Sammons (2-0, 3.46) is slated to pitch against Snappers right-hander Xavier Altamirano (7-4, 3.20). Catch the coverage with Morgan Hawk online at www.kmryradio.com, www.kernels.com, and MiLB.TV.
Monday's homestand finale is a Mark Down Monday, a Noon Game presented by 104.5 KDAT, and Solar Eclipse Day. The first 2,000 fans will receive a free pair of solar eclipse viewing glasses, and the Cedar Amateur Astronomers have a special camera set up to follow the eclipse on the LED board. Regular hot dogs are $1.50 each for Mark Down Monday, and small popcorn, chips, and ice cream sandwiches are only $1.00 apiece. Plus, fans can enjoy a Noon Game Combo Special that includes a regular sandwich, a choice of chips or popcorn, and a choice of 16 oz. regular draft beer or 20 oz. bottled soda or water for just $8.50.
Fans can purchase 2017 Kernels regular season and playoff tickets by visiting www.kernels.com, going to the Kernels Ticket Office, or calling (319) 896-7560. The Kernels Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. On Sundays when the Kernels have a home game, the Kernels Ticket Office will open at 11:00 a.m.