Carrier Drives Kernels to 8-7 Victory

GENEVA, ILL. - Shane Carrier tied a career high with four runs batted in Wednesday to carry the Cedar Rapids Kernels to their 8-7 win over the Kane County Cougars at Northwestern Medicine Field. Carrier also registered his third home run of the season within a multi-hit effort.
Cedar Rapids (21-20) quickly grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning with help from Carrier. Jordan Gore hit a one-out double and scored on an error that allowed Jose Miranda to get on base. Miranda scored from third after a sacrifice fly from Carrier.

Kane County (21-21) rallied in front, 3-2, during the bottom of the first. Yoel Yanqui produced an RBI double and later scored via error. Eduardo Diaz brought in the go-ahead run near the end of the frame by hitting a two-out single that plated Yan Sanchez.
The Kernels responded in the second and jumped ahead, 4-3. Jacob Pearson's two-out infield single drove in Trey Cabbage to tie the game. Later in the inning, Pearson got into a rundown that allowed Ben Rodriguez to score from third base and push Cedar Rapids in front for good.
Carrier increased the Kernels' lead to 7-3 through the top of the fifth. He launched a solo shot to left-center field during the third inning and added a two-run single in the fifth that brought in Pearson and Gore.
The Cougars scored within the fifth and seventh innings to trim their deficit to 7-5. Ernie De La Trinidad beat out a throw to first base on a potential inning-ending double play that allowed Gabriel Maciel to come home in fifth. Yanqui helped Kane County inch closer in the seventh with another RBI double.
Jose Miranda drove in a critical insurance run in Cedar Rapids' half of the ninth prior to a Cougar rally in the bottom of the frame. Miranda hit a one-out RBI single to bring in Gore for an 8-5 Kernels advantage. Jasrado Chisholm delivered an RBI groundout for Kane County ahead of Yanqui's third RBI double of the contest, but Yanqui was stranded in scoring position when De La Trinidad struck out to end the game.
Bailey Ober (1-1) held Kane County to four runs over five innings in his first Kernels victory. Jose Martinez allowed one run in two frames within his team-high second hold, and Carlos Suniaga gave up two runs in two innings but picked up his second save.
Kane County's Mack Lemieux (1-3) yielded a season-high seven runs including only three earned runs in five innings and took the loss. Wednesday's 8-7 decision marked the third time in as many games this series where the outcome was determined by a single run.
The series finale between Cedar Rapids and Kane County is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Kernels right-hander Blayne Enlow (0-1, 4.34) will face Cougars right-hander Brian Shaffer (2-2, 2.53). 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 starts Friday, May 25 and consists of nine games including two doubleheaders. 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.