Helman’s Double Defeats Snappers

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Michael Helman recorded a walk-off double in the ninth inning Tuesday and gave the Cedar Rapids Kernels a 4-3 win against the Beloit Snappers at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The decisive double was the second of the season for Helman who recorded a similar game-winning hit June 16 versus the South Bend Cubs.

Beloit (29-38) tallied an unearned game-tying run during its half of the ninth, but Cedar Rapids (37-30) quickly won the game later in the frame. Jair Camargo led off with an infield single and was replaced by pinch-runner Daniel Ozoria. Helman batted next and doubled into the left-field corner to bring in Ozoria for the 4-3 triumph.

Prior to the ninth, Camargo drove the Kernels to their first lead within the seventh inning. The Snappers had a 2-1 advantage when DaShawn Keirsey Jr. posted a leadoff triple. Camargo followed by hitting his team-high 13th home run of the season to right-center field and pushing Cedar Rapids ahead, 3-2.

Matt Wallner forced an early 1-1 tie in the third. Wallner, who was in his first Kernels game after nearly two full months on the injured list, belted a two-out solo shot to right field for his fifth homer overall to erase Beloit’s initial lead.

Zach Featherstone (3-3) was the winning pitcher within the eighth consecutive Cedar Rapids home win and its seventh total walk-off win. Tyler Mitzel (1-4) allowed hits to both batters faced during the ninth and ended up with the loss.

Game two between Cedar Rapids and Beloit is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Wednesday, and the probable pitchers are Kernels right-hander Louie Varland (0-0, 0.00) and Snappers southpaw Zach King (2-8, 5.92). Fans that are unable to attend the contest can follow the action with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz on www.kernels.com and MiLB.TV.

Bark in the Park returns courtesy of Lou Kessler and Ainsley Snyder of Urban Acres Real Estate. Each dog must have a ticket and be registered via https://bit.ly/3eFYTTf. Dog tickets are $7.00, and proceeds from those tickets will benefit Critter Crusaders.

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.