Helman Homers Twice in 3-1 Victory

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Michael Helman’s first professional multi-homer game helped the Cedar Rapids Kernels earn a 3-1 win Friday night versus the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in front of 3,011 fans at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Sawyer Gipson-Long, Zach Featherstone, and Melvi Acosta limited Wisconsin (43-50) to just one unearned run as Cedar Rapids (53-41) secured a five-game win streak and a 4-0 lead in this six-game series.

Helman put the Kernels in front, 1-0, within bottom of the third inning. He launched a leadoff solo home run that cleared the 15-foot-high wall at the Plumbers & Pipefitters Pavilion.

Wisconsin tied the game in the fourth on Zavier Warren’s RBI single, but Cedar Rapids regained the lead, 2-1, during the fifth. Back-to-back errors allowed Yunior Severino and Matt Wallner to get aboard to open the inning. Wander Javier followed with a go-ahead single that plated Severino from second base.

In the sixth, Helman homered once again to increase the advantage to 3-1 Kernels. His latest solo shot to left field also made him the team’s outright leader in round-trippers at 14 blasts overall.

Gipson-Long (1-1) allowed one unearned run while collecting a game-high eight strikeouts over six innings to notch a quality start and a win. Featherstone tossed two scoreless innings in relief en route to his second hold. Acosta recorded a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his seventh save.

Nick Bennett (2-3) tallied seven strikeouts in five innings pitched but also gave up two runs including one unearned in a losing decision.

The penultimate contest of this six-game series will begin at 6:35 p.m. Saturday. Cedar Rapids right-hander Cody Laweryson (1-3, 5.06) will start versus Wisconsin right-hander Justin Jarvis (1-6, 6.29). Broadcast coverage will be available on www.kernels.com and MiLB.TV.

A fireworks display, which is presented by Fleet Farm, will follow Saturday’s tilt between the Kernels and the Timber Rattlers. Postgame pyrotechnics are scheduled for every Saturday home date throughout the 2021 Cedar Rapids Kernels regular season slate.

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.