Kernels walk-off LumberKings in 12 innings

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (May 22, 2017) - Jermaine Palacios of the Cedar Rapids Kernels homered in the bottom of the 12^th inning to walk-off the Clinton LumberKings 6-3 on Monday night at Perfect Game Field. After leading for most of the game, the LumberKings (16-25) pitching could not hold off the Kernels in an extra inning loss in game one of a four game series.
The LumberKings scored first, bring home a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Rayder Ascanio, Bryson Brigman, and Joe Rizzo each reached with hits against Kernels (26-18) starter Sean Poppen. Rizzo had the big of the inning driving home both Ascanio and Brigman with a double to left field.
The 2-0 lead was short lived. The Kernels answered with a two-run rally of their own in the bottom of the first after loading the bases against LumberKings starter Ljay Newsome. Following an RBI ground out by Jaylin Davis, Kernels Travis Blankehorn doubled home the second run of the inning to tie the game.
In the top of the second inning, the LumberKings reclaimed their lead when Luis Rengifo was hit to leadoff the inning and scored on the very next pitch to Luis Liberato who doubled to left for the third and final LumberKings run of the night.
The 3-2 lead looked as though it would hold up for Clinton. Newsome pitched into the seventh inning, for the first time this season, but could not finish the fame and was pulled with one out and a runner at first in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Ronald Dominguez relieved Newsome to face Christian Cavaness. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Cavaness drove a deep and very high fly ball to right field. LumberKings right fielder Anthony Jimenez could not find the ball, which dropped over his head near the wall, scoring the tying run and putting Caveness at third with an RBI triple.
Caveness would be stranded at third in the seventh but went 3-for-5 with a run scored, an RBI, a triple, and a walk.
Dominguez shutout the Kernels over his final 2.2 innings of work and handed the ball to Michael Koval.
Koval pitched himself into a jam in the 10^th but returned to the mound with a 1-2-3 11^th before again finding himself in trouble in the 12^th.
The first two batters in the 12^th inning singled for Cedar Rapids putting runners at first and second base. Koval then struck out Caveness but four pitches later had his 1-2 pitch to Palacios lined over the tall wall in left for walk-off three-run home run.
Tom Hackimer picked up the win for the Kernels with two perfect innings of relief. The win was Hackimer's (2-1) second of the season.
The LumberKings will game two of their four-game series with the first-place Cedar Rapids Kernels. Left-handed pitcher Danny Garcia (2-4, 6.63) will take the ball for Clinton and face Cedar Rapids's left-handed pitcher Domenick Calini IV (2-2, 4.73). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM (CDT) with the pregame show beginning at 6:20 PM (CDT) on 100.3 FM WCCI Erik Oas is on the call.  
About the LumberKings
The LumberKings, the only remaining Charter Member of the Midwest League, are playing their 62nd season in the league and their ninth as an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Since the club's inception in 1937, 270 former Clinton players have made it to the Major Leagues. The LumberKings play at historic Ashford University Field located off 6th Avenue North at 537 Ballpark Drive. Tickets to all 70 home games are available by calling (563) 242-0727 or by visiting lumberkings.com