Homer-Happy Cedar Rapids Blasts Beloit

BELOIT, Wis. – The Cedar Rapids Kernels finished a game by scoring six unanswered runs on home runs for the second night in a row and won Friday’s meeting with the Beloit Snappers, 7-5, at Pohlman Field. Cedar Rapids (16-18) is on a three-game win streak and leads Beloit (16-18) by a 3-1 margin in a six-game series.

The Kernels were trailing, 5-1, when Alex Isola started the comeback during the seventh inning. Isola launched a three-run round-tripper to center field and sliced the difference to 5-4. He joined Spencer Steer on the short list of Cedar Rapids batters that have recorded three-game homer streaks in 2021.

Steer evened the score at 5-5 within the eighth. His one-out solo shot to left-center field was his sixth blast in the last five contests.

In the ninth, Trey Cabbage and Jair Camargo teamed up to push Cedar Rapids to a 7-5 lead. Cabbage and Camargo each clubbed one-out clouts to right field for the first instance of back-to-back Kernels home runs this season.

Earlier in the game, Michael Helman tallied a third-inning run that provided a 1-0 Kernels edge before Beloit surged ahead. Ricky Aracena opened a three-run bottom of the third by scoring via error. Kameron Misner hit a two-run single later in the frame. The Snappers added solo homers from Troy Johnston and Connor Scott during the fourth and fifth innings, respectively.

Owen Griffith (3-2) struck out five of six batters faced over two perfect innings of relief to garner the victory Friday. Griffith inherited a pair of baserunners in the eighth but kept them from coming home to prevent Beloit from breaking a 5-5 tie.

Justin Evans (0-1) was the losing pitcher after giving up the back-to-back blasts in the final stanza. Andrew Nardi allowed the four previous runs within the Cedar Rapids comeback and was charged for a blown save.

Saturday evening’s game at Pohlman Field between the Kernels and the Snappers will begin at 6:35 p.m., and Cedar Rapids right-hander Ben Gross (0-0, 4.57) is slated to pitch against Beloit right-hander Bryan Hoeing (2-2, 6.67).

Cedar Rapids will host its next homestand from June 15 through June 27. 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.