Featherstone, Gore Close Out 1-0 Shutout
DAVENPORT, Iowa – Zach Featherstone’s first professional win and Jordan Gore’s first professional save came within a 1-0 Cedar Rapids Kernels three-hit shutout Tuesday against the Quad Cities River Bandits at Modern Woodmen Park. The early tandem of Tyler Watson and Tyler Palm also pitched during the second consecutive three-hitter
DAVENPORT, Iowa – Zach Featherstone’s first professional win and Jordan Gore’s first professional save came within a 1-0 Cedar Rapids Kernels three-hit shutout Tuesday against the Quad Cities River Bandits at Modern Woodmen Park. The early tandem of Tyler Watson and Tyler Palm also pitched during the second consecutive three-hitter for the Kernels (27-22).
The lone run in Tuesday’s tilt was driven in by DaShawn Keirsey Jr. in the fourth inning. Wander Javier opened the frame with a base on balls and advanced to second base on a one-out walk for Alex Isola. Keirsey batted next and delivered a tie-breaking single into right-center field that lifted Cedar Rapids to its 1-0 advantage.
Watson, who was making just his third start of the season, shined with a season-high four shutout innings. He struck out four batters and only allowed one baserunner via John Rave’s third-inning single.
Palm tossed a scoreless fifth before he was replaced early in the sixth by Featherstone (1-2). The winning pitcher worked around two walks and one hit over a career-high-tying two shutout innings.
Gore inherited a runner from Featherstone in the eighth and kept Quad Cities (31-16) off the scoreboard. Gore escaped a tough spot with two men in scoring position by inducing a groundout, and he stranded the potential game-tying run within the ninth.
Tuesday’s losing pitcher was Noah Murdock (0-1). He went hitless in 3.1 innings pitched, but a baserunner bequeathed to Dante Biasi scored the decisive run.
Game two of this six-game series will be Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. with Cedar Rapids right-hander Ben Gross (2-0, 2.78) expected to start against Quad Cities right-hander Zach Haake (4-1, 3.83). Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will have the call on www.kernels.com.
Cedar Rapids will host its next homestand Tuesday, July 6 through Sunday, July 11. 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.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the High-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.