Celestino, Snyder Drive Kernels to 4-1 Win

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - Gilberto Celestino tallied an outfield assist and a go-ahead run in the eighth inning Monday before Gabe Snyder added a two-run home run that pushed the Cedar Rapids Kernels to a 4-1 victory Monday afternoon against the Kane County Cougars at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Cedar Rapids (5-6, 44-37) also finished with a 2-1 series win over Kane County (8-3, 43-37).
Celestino ended the top of the eighth with his arm and started the bottom of the eighth with his bat. After catching a Joey Rose fly ball, he threw out Alek Thomas at third base for the final out. Celestino hit a leadoff double in the home half of the inning and scored on a double from Chris Williams to put Cedar Rapids in front, 2-1.

Snyder stretched the lead to 4-1 Kernels later within the eighth. Williams moved to third base during Ben Rodriguez's groundout, and Snyder followed by lifting a two-run homer that was ruled fair down the right-field line.
Prior to the pivotal eighth inning, both offenses were kept in check. Kai-Wei Teng and Kenny Hernandez each allowed just one run in six innings pitched for Cedar Rapids and Kane County respectively. Daniel Ozoria's RBI single gave the Kernels a 1-0 advantage in the second, but Zachery Almond brought the Cougars level with a game-tying solo shot during the third.
Carlos Suniaga (2-2) earned the win against Ryan Miller (3-5). Suniaga yielded only one hit over two shutout innings before Moises Gomez tossed a scoreless and hitless ninth inning for his fourth save. Miller was tagged for three runs in two frames within a losing decision.
Up next, the Kernels travel to Community Field for a pair of games with the Burlington Bees. The series opener will start Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., and the probable pitchers are Kernels right-hander Austin Schulfer (5-4, 2.65) and Bees right-hander Robinson Pina (4-3, 4.37). Broadcast coverage of Tuesday's opener will be on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com and www.kernels.com.
Cedar Rapids will host its next homestand Thursday, July 4 and Friday, July 5. Fans can purchase tickets for all Cedar Rapids Kernels home games by visiting www.kernels.com, going to the Kernels Ticket Office, or calling (319) 896-7560. The Kernels Ticket Office is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. On Sundays when the Kernels have a home game, the Kernels Ticket Office will open at 11:00 a.m.