Kernels Score Six Times in the Fourth Inning, Outscore Captains 11-7

Cedar Rapids, IA – Trailing 5-2 entering the bottom of the fourth inning, the Kernels scored six runs on seven hits, four for extra bases, to take the lead they would never lose Friday night in an 11-7 win over Lake County.

After the Kernels scored 12 runs to take a 12-1 win on Thursday, Lake County’s offense came out swinging on Friday. In the top of the first inning, Cooper Ingle scored two on an RBI single to lift the Captains ahead 2-0.

In the bottom half of the first, Cedar Rapids grabbed a run back. After a flyout to begin the game, Emmanuel Rodriguez and Kala’i Rosario picked up back-to-back doubles to cut the Lake County lead to 2-1.

After a Kahlil Watson home run put Lake County up by two once again in the top of the third, the Kernels again responded. To begin the Cedar Rapids half of the third, Keoni Cavaco walked, then scored all the way from first base on a Ben Ross double to make it 3-2.

In the top of the fourth inning, a one-out walk put a runner on base for Tyreese Turner, who crushed a two-run home run to give Lake County its largest lead of the night at 5-2.

That three-run lead was the tally in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jorel Ortega singled to open the frame and stole second, getting in scoring position for Carson McCusker, who picked up an RBI single to make it 5-3. The next batter, Jeferson Morales, then smashed a line drive two-run home run to tie the game at 5-5. After a Keoni Cavaco single, Ross gave the Kernels the lead they would never lose with a two-run home run, his nineteenth of the year to set the Kernels ahead 7-5. After the home run, Rodriguez tripled, and Rosario added his second RBI double of the night to push the advantage to 8-5.

In the fifth inning, Jose Salas singled to open the frame. Salas then stole second and went to steal third when the throw down to third sailed over the head of the third basemen, allowing Salas to score to put the Kernels up 9-5.

That stayed the score until the bottom of the eighth inning. A Cavaco walk and a Rodriguez double put two in scoring position for Rosario, who drove home his third run of the game with a fielder’s choice. Two batters later, Rodriguez came home to score on an Ortega single and an error to put the Kernels up 11-5.

Lake County rallied to score twice in the ninth inning, but it was too little too late as the Kernels took the fourth game of the series over Lake County 11-7.

The win for the Kernels (79-45) is the fourth in a row to begin the set with Lake County (59-62) as Cedar Rapids matches a season-best six-game winning streak. Game five of the series is set for tomorrow at 6:35, with Kyle Jones on the mound opposite Steven Hajjar.