Lopez Squeezes in Winning Run, Mercedes' Defense Preserves Win

Beloit 3 Cedar Rapids 2 - Sunday
WP: Damron (5-5)
LP: Mason (1-2)
S: None
Time: 2:31
Attn: 1,346
Jesus Lopez dropped a suicide squeeze to score the winning run for the Snappers in the bottom of the eighth, and Miguel Mercedes ended the game on a 3-2 double play with the final out at home plate in the Snappers 3-2 win over Cedar Rapids on Sunday. Lopez overcame two first inning errors that allowed the Kernels to score their only run against starter Zack Erwin, who threw six two-hit innings in his final outings of the season.
Cedar Rapids evened the score 2-2 in the top of the eighth with a double by Jordan Gore and an RBI two-bagger by Travis Blankenhorn. In the bottom half, Josh Vidales hit a leadoff single and moved over to second on a wild pitch then to third on Mike Martin's second sacrifice bunt of the afternoon. Luke Persico walked to bring up Lopez with runners on the corners, and he bunted the ball softly between home and the pitcher's mound as Vidales broke for home to reclaim the lead for the Snappers.
The ninth inning got dicey for Ty Damron in the ninth inning before he earned his fifth win of the year. A wild pitch moved a pair of Kernels runners into scoring position with one out. Amaurys Minier hit a pop up in foul ground that Mercedes hauled in while moving back and Ben Rortvedt broke for home, but Mercedes threw on-target to Theroux at home to end the game on a double play.
Erwin finished his strong 2017 campaign at home where he was at his best all year. He recorded his seventh quality start of the year without allowing an earned run to drop his overall ERA to 2.08 and a 1.11 ERA at Pohlman Field. J.C. Rodriguez drove in the Snappers first two runs with a clutch two-out, two-run double in the sixth inning that gave the Snappers a 2-1 lead at the time. Vidales got aboard three more times with a pair of hits and a walk.
The victory on Sunday was the 20th last at-bat win by the Snappers this season as they also hold an unblemished 45-0 record when leading after eight innings. It was also the 48th one-run contest played by the Snappers this season.

Box Score: https://www.milb.com/gameday/kernels-vs-snappers/2017/09/03/499311#game_state=final,game_tab=box,game=499311
Team Records: Beloit (64-73), Cedar Rapids (75-64)
Next Game: Monday at 2:00 p.m. vs. Cedar Rapids Kernels at Pohlman Field
Probable Pitchers: Cedar Rapids TBA vs. Beloit RHP Seth Martinez (4-10, 3.77 ERA)
The Snappers close out the regular season on Labor Day against the Cedar Rapids Kernel 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.