Kernels Top Snappers in Final Series Opener

Cedar Rapids 4 Beloit 2 - Saturday
WP: Sammons (3-1)
LP: Milburn (7-11)
S: McGuff (1)
Time: 2:49 (:47 delay)
Attn: 2,840
Beloit fell 4-2 to open their final series of the season against Cedar Rapids on Saturday. A pitchers dual early on, the Kernels broke through against Snappers starter Matt Milburn with three runs in the fourth after he added all of his five strikeouts in the first three innings. Milburn logged six innings and allowed all four runs, three earned, for his eighth quality start of the season in his final outing of 2017.
The Snappers got on the board first in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Mike Martin with the bases loaded. Cedar Rapids quickly tied the game 1-1 the next frame with the combination of Travis Blankenhorn's league-best 11th triple and an RBI single from Aaron Whitefield. The Kernels took the lead for good two batters later on an RBI groundout by Jimmy Kerrigan.
Goldstein went 2-for-4 with a double, but left a pair of critical runners on the bases in the sixth that represented the tying runs. Miguel Mercedes went 1-for-3 with an RBI single. He now has driven in a run in his last three games to put him one RBI short of becoming the third Snapper with 60 on the season. Kyle Nowlin also walked twice to bump his team-best season total to 69 free passes. Joe Camacho hurled three scoreless inning in relief with four punch outs.

Box Score: https://www.milb.com/gameday/kernels-vs-snappers/2017/09/02/499310#game_state=final,game_tab=boxscore,game=499310
Team Records: Cedar Rapids (75-63), Beloit (63-73)
Next Game: Sunday at 2:00 p.m. vs. Cedar Rapids Kernels at Pohlman Field
Probable Pitchers: Cedar Rapids RHP Randy Dobnak (0-0, -.-- ERA) vs. Beloit LHP Zack Erwin (6-4, 2.22 ERA)
The Snappers close out the regular season over Labor Day weekend with three games against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Sunday and Monday's games begin at 2 p.m. with $2 closeout food and beverage specials. Tickets for these events at Pohlman Field and all individual game tickets can be found here.