GENEVA, ILL. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels scored six unanswered runs Friday night to overcome a late deficit and pick up a 6-2 come-from-behind victory against the Kane County Cougars at Northwestern Medicine Field. Joe Cronin hit a game-tying home run and finished a single shy of hitting for the
GENEVA, ILL. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels scored six unanswered runs Friday night to overcome a late deficit and pick up a 6-2 come-from-behind victory against the Kane County Cougars at Northwestern Medicine Field. Joe Cronin hit a game-tying home run and finished a single shy of hitting for the cycle, and Joe Record notched his Midwest League-high-tying fourth save.
Zack Shannon powered the Cougars (13-9) to a 2-0 lead through six innings of play. Shannon opened the scoring with a solo shot to right field within the first inning. He added a double during the sixth and scored on a two-out throwing error.
Jackson Goddard held Cedar Rapids (10-11) scoreless within a shutout start, but Cronin broke through against Erin Baldwin in the seventh. David Banuelos drew a one-out walk from Baldwin and was waiting at second base with two outs when Cronin launched a two-run blast to left field that tied the game at 2-2.
The Kernels surged in front during the eighth inning and tallied an insurance run in the ninth. Gilberto Celestino's two-out double within the eighth drove in Gabe Snyder for a 3-2 lead. Two batters later, Bañuelos produced an RBI single that allowed Celestino and Jacob Pearson to come home. Cronin tripled to lead off the ninth inning and scored via Hunter Lee's RBI single to lift Cedar Rapids to a 6-2 advantage.
Record retired all four batters faced and tied South Bend Cubs reliever Ethan Roberts for the league lead in saves. Record inherited a bases-loaded jam in the eighth but induced an inning-ending groundout from Alek Thomas before posting a perfect ninth inning to close the contest.
Jacob Blank (2-0) earned his second victory in as many appearances after keeping Kane County scoreless and hitless while pitching in the seventh and eighth innings. Jordan Balazovic opened the game with a quality start and recorded seven strikeouts. His 33 total strikeouts this season represent the best mark in the Midwest League.
Blake Workman (0-2) gave up three runs including two unearned runs during the eighth inning and was charged with the loss Friday evening.
Game three of this four-game series is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon. The probable pitchers are Cedar Rapids right-hander Cole Sands (0-0, 1.93) and Kane County right-hander Ryan Weiss (1-1, 1.59). Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will broadcast the action on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com and www.kernels.com.
Cedar Rapids' next homestand begins April 30 and runs through May 5. 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 Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
