Kernels breeze past Bees 11-1

[Empty Body]

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - The Kernels scored seven runs in the first inning and rolled to a 11-1 win over the Burlington Bees on Wednesday night. Cedar Rapids outhit Burlington 17-4. The teams play next on Thursday night in the middle game of the final regular season series.
Travis Blankenhorn led the way with five RBI and his team-best 13^th home run of the season. He has now homered in four of his past six games. Trey Cabbage had three RBI and two hits, including a double. Royce Lewis scored three runs and went 3-for-4 while picking up his first Midwest League triple. Ben Rortvedt went 3-for-4 with a double and one RBI.
Tyler Watson (1-3) earned his first Midwest League victory after allowing one run on three hits over five innings. Watson struck out six and walked three. Max Cordy and Evan Sanders both pitched two scoreless innings to close out the game.
Andrew Vinson (9-10) was chased early and took the loss after recording just one out. The Bees starter allowed seven runs (five earned) on seven hits and one walk.
Burlington scored their only run in the first inning on Brandon Sandoval's RBI single.
However, the Kernels scored the next 11 runs on the night. They began by plating seven runs in the first inning, sending 12 Kernels to the plate. Blankenhorn got the scoring started with a RBI single. Cabbage's three-run double made the score 4-0. Cabbage came home on Shane Kennedy's RBI double. Rortvedt's RBI single plated Kennedy. Blankenhorn added another run with a RBI groundout later in the inning, giving the Kernels an early 7-1 advantage.
Blankenhorn's two-run home run in the fourth inning made the score 9-1. His 13^th of the season broke a tie with Lewin Diaz and Jaylin Davis for the outright team lead.
Cedar Rapids tacked on two more runs in the eighth inning to push the lead to 11-1. Lewis started the inning with his first Midwest League triple. He came home on Blankenhorn's RBI groundout. Later in the inning, Caleb Hamilton's RBI double plated Aaron Whitefield.
The teams play again on Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. RHP Tyler Wells (5-3, 2.21) is scheduled to start against Burlington's RHP Luis Madero (1-2, 6.14).
Three fans, age 18 and older, will win a new 40-inch flat screen TV as part of First Federal Credit Union Flat Screen Thursday. Get a raffle ticket at the First Federal Credit Union table on the concourse as we will draw for the TVs during the game. You must be present to win. Also, fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the game to donate to the Home Run for Hunger program. Those that donate will receive a coupon for a FREE bottled soda or water from the concession stands, thanks to First Federal Credit Union. It's also a 94.1 KRNA Thirsty Thursday where 12 oz. regular draft beer and 20 oz. bottled soda and water are $2 all game. And, it's College Night! Show you college ID at the Kernels Ticket Office and get a Club ticket and two regular hot dogs for just $9! The first 500 fans through the gates receive a FREE Kernels 2017-18 wall calendar. This is our final Flat Screen and Thirsty Thursday of the season, and the Kernels want to thank First Federal Credit Union and 94.1 KRNA for sponsoring Flat Screen and Thirsty Thursday this season. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.kernels.com or through the Kernels Ticket Office at 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 am. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Fans can listen to the play-by-play action on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM, as well as online at www.kernels.com and www.kmryradio.com.