Kernels Sweep Bees with 8-0 Shutout

BURLINGTON, IOWA - Bryan Sammons, Jose Martinez, and Calvin Faucher combined for an 8-0 Cedar Rapids Kernels shutout Sunday against the Burlington Bees at Community Field. Cedar Rapids (10-1, 42-38) recorded its Midwest League-high ninth shutout to secure a four-game sweep versus Burlington (1-10, 31-49).
Sammons (5-4) earned his team-high-tying fifth victory while posting his sixth consecutive quality start. He yielded six hits but did not allow any runs or walks over six shutout innings. Sammons, who was named Minnesota Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Week prior to his start, also owns a streak of 15 consecutive scoreless frames dating back to June 15. He is now tied with Edwar Colina for longest scoreless inning streak by a Kernel this year.

Martinez and Faucher completed the shutout behind Sammons. Martinez stranded four baserunners and tallied three strikeouts over two innings pitched. Faucher left a runner at third base in a scoreless ninth inning to close the contest.
Five runs during the top of the third inning lifted Cedar Rapids to an early 5-0 advantage. Ben Rodriguez led off the frame with a solo home run. Three batters later, Royce Lewis picked up an RBI single. Jean Carlos Arias increased the lead with a two-out, two-run triple and scored near the end of the inning via error.
Lewis and Arias each extended lengthy streaks during the go-ahead rally. Lewis secured a career-best 14-game on-base streak with his single, and Arias' triple guaranteed a season-high 12-game hit streak.
Jose Miranda homered in the seventh to push the Kernels' lead to 8-0. Batting with two runners aboard and one out, Miranda hit a fly ball that bounced off the top of the right-field wall and went over the fence for his eighth home run of the season. It was also Miranda's first round-tripper on the road with Cedar Rapids.
Oliver Ortega (3-4) was the losing pitcher for Burlington in Sunday's series finale. Ortega gave up five runs including four earned runs within three innings of work.
This six-game road swing continues Monday at the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in the opener of a four-game "home-and-home" series. First pitch Monday is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., and Minnesota Twins prospect Tyler Watson (2-2, 3.96) is the probable starter for the Kernels. Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will have the call on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com and www.kernels.com.
Cedar Rapids' next homestand is a two-game series with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers that begins on Wednesday, July 4th. Fans can purchase tickets for all Cedar Rapids home games 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.