DAVENPORT, IOWA - Randy Dobnak recorded a 2-1 complete-game victory Saturday for the Cedar Rapids Kernels to kick off a doubleheader split with the Quad Cities River Bandits at Modern Woodmen Park. Quad Cities won the second contest, 4-1, and secured its third split in as many doubleheaders this year.
DAVENPORT, IOWA - Randy Dobnak recorded a 2-1 complete-game victory Saturday for the Cedar Rapids Kernels to kick off a doubleheader split with the Quad Cities River Bandits at Modern Woodmen Park. Quad Cities won the second contest, 4-1, and secured its third split in as many doubleheaders this year. Saturday's twin bill was Cedar Rapids' first of the season.
Dobnak (2-0) tossed 100 pitches over seven innings pitched within the game one triumph. He gave up one run in the first and allowed multiple runners into scoring position during the third before Andrew Bechtold started a 5-3-4-2 inning-ending double play. Dobnak retired 10 of the final 11 batters he faced and registered six strikeouts in the victory.
Royce Lewis single-handedly produced more offense than the River Bandits in the Kernels' 2-1 win. Lewis collected an RBI groundout in the first, but Quad Cities tied the game in its half of the frame on an RBI single by Adrian Tovalin. In the third, Lewis drove in Jordan Gore with a go-ahead RBI single. The hit also gave Lewis a career-long six-game hit streak.
Luis Garcia (0-1) allowed his first two runs of the season and was tagged with the loss. He started the year with nine consecutive scoreless innings prior to Saturday's doubleheader.
Trey Cabbage gave Cedar Rapids an early lead in game two. Jean Carlos Arias got into scoring position on a one-out triple in the second inning. Two batters later, Cabbage doubled to bring in Arias for a 1-0 Kernels advantage.
Quad Cities answered with multiple runs during the fourth and fifth innings to reach its winning margin of 4-1. Corey Julks' fourth-inning double tied the contest before Bryan De La Cruz's RBI single put the River Bandits in front. Within the fifth, Jonathan Arauz lifted a two-run home run to right field that increased Quad Cities' lead.
Cristian Javier (1-0) and Carlos Sanabria pitched the River Bandits to the victory while Melvi Acosta (0-1) suffered the defeat. Javier posted eight strikeouts over five frames with just one run allowed. Sanabria posted two perfect innings for his second save. Acosta yielded two runs in 3.1 innings within his Kernels debut.
Sunday's series finale between Cedar Rapids (9-8) and Quad Cities (10-11) is scheduled for 1:15 p.m., and Kernels left-hander Bryan Sammons (0-2, 3.95) will start against River Bandits southpaw Parker Mushinski (0-0, 2.38). Catch the action with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz 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 Tuesday, May 1 and continues through Sunday, May 6. Upcoming promotions include Nick Jr. Night featuring Paw Patrol & Rubble T-Shirt Giveaway, Kentucky Derby Night with Procter & Gamble Postgame Fireworks, and a Kernels Baseball Card Set Giveaway presented by Perfect Game USA.
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.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
