Kernels Rally for 5-4 Win Thursday

EASTLAKE, OHIO - Spencer Steer drew a balk on an attempted steal of home plate Thursday to put the Cedar Rapids Kernels ahead for good in a 5-4 come-from-behind win against the Lake County Captains at Classic Park. Cedar Rapids (16-10, 55-41) clinched its eighth consecutive series victory over Lake County (14-12, 54-41) and holds a 2-0 lead in this three-game set.
The Captains scored in each of the first three innings to establish a 3-0 edge. Daniel Schneemann's RBI double drove in Quentin Holmes during the opening stanza. Josh Rolette doubled in the second before scoring on a triple from Cody Farhat. Jose Fermin extended the third inning via bunt single and came home when Ruben Cardenas followed with a double.

Millersburg, Ohio native Gabe Snyder smashed a fourth-inning solo shot to break up Lake County's shutout bid. Snyder, playing in his second professional game within his home state, lifted a leadoff home run to right-center field to trim the difference to 3-1. Snyder is now tied with Chris Williams and Jared Akins at a team-high 10 round-trippers each.
Lake County answered in the fifth with a homer of its own. Schneemann's leadoff solo blast to right-center field that secured a 4-1 Captains lead and his first clout this season.
Steer and the Kernels surged in front, 5-4, in the seventh. Yeltsin Encarncaion opened the scoring by driving in Albee Weiss via sacrifice fly. Two batters later, Steer hit a double to bring in Alex Isola. Daniel Ozoria tallied the game-tying run on Gilberto Celestino's RBI groundout. Steer moved to third base on the play and caused a balk while trying to steal home to produce the decisive run.
Luis Rijo (3-6) gave up four runs in six innings but also received credit for the win Thursday. J.T. Perez earned his first Kernels hold with two shutout innings, and Rickey Ramirez tossed a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his first Kernels save of 2019.
Luis Araujo (2-4) allowed the four-run rally in the seventh and was charged for a blown save and a loss. Eli Lingos posted his first professional quality start with a career-high 10 strikeouts over a personal-best six innings pitched, but he was knocked out of a potential victory with the pivotal seventh inning.
Friday's series finale will start at 7:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. CT), and the probable pitchers are Kernels right-hander Andrew Cabezas (4-5, 3.66) and Captains right-hander Thomas Ponticelli (3-2, 5.17). Broadcast coverage with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will be available on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com and www.kernels.com.
Cedar Rapids will be back at home from Wednesday, July 24 through Monday, July 29. Fans can purchase tickets for all Cedar Rapids Kernels home games by visiting www.kernels.com, going to the Kernels Ticket Office, or 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. On Sundays when the Kernels have a home game, the Kernels Ticket Office will open at 11:00 a.m.