Kernels ride early lead to 7-1 LumberKings Loss

CLINTON, IA (June 6, 2017) - Early Cedar Rapids Kernels offense and strong pitching combined to drop the Clinton LumberKings 7-2 on Tuesday night at Ashford University Field. The LumberKings (22-33) mustered just two hits over six innings against Kernels (34-24) starter Tyler Wells and could not match Cedar Rapids early rallies.
The Kernels wasted no time in grabbing the lead. In the top of the first, Lumberkings starter Nick Wells gave up a run when three straight Kernels reached with hits, the last a Jaylin Davis RBI single. The Davis hit also led to an out, as Lewin Davis tried to score on the play but was tagged out by LumberKings catcher Yojhan Quevedo.
Quevedo was hurt on the play and was forced to leave the game putting the Lumberkings in an awkward spot. For the first time this season both Clinton catchers were in the starting lineup with Nick Thurman serving as the designated hitter (DH). Following Quevedo's injury Thurman became the Lumberkings catcher and forced Clinton to forfeit their DH and allow their pitcher to bat. Nick Wells went 0-for-2.
In the top of the third inning, the Kernels added to their lead with a two-run rally against Nick Wells (1-6). Travis Blankenhorn doubled with one out and scored three pitchers later on a Jermaine Palacios triple to right-center.
Palacios was one of several Kernels stand outs in the game. The Kernels shortstop came just a double shy of the cycle, going 3-for-5 at the plate with a home run, triple, three runs scored, and two RBI.
The Kernels added a run in the fourth and another in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead. Nick Wells gave up his final run of the night on a Palacios lead-off home run to right.
The LumberKings had few answers at the plate. Tyler Wells started for Cedar Rapids and shutout the LumberKings over his six innings of work. Wells (3-0) earned his third win of the year allowing just two hits, while walking none, and striking out seven.
It was not until the bottom of the seventh when the LumberKings forced their first run across. Joe Rizzo worked a walk with one out, to extened his streak of reaching bases safely to 15 games, and scored when the next batter Anthony Jimenez doubled him home.
The Kernels answered the LumberKings run with two more runs in the top of the eight to put the game out of reach.
Jimenez drove in both of Clinton's runs and was the only LumberKing to record a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a double, and two RBI.
The LumberKings will play game two of their three-game series with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Left-handed pitcher Danny Garcia (5-4, 5.08) will take the ball for Clinton and face Cedar Rapid's right-handed pitcher Sean Poppen (4-1, 2.12) First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 PM (CDT) with the pregame show beginning at 6:15 PM (CDT) on 100.3 FM WCCI Erik Oas is on the call.  Wednesday is "Wing Wednesday" at Ashford University Field with 50 wings all game long.
About the LumberKings
The LumberKings, the only remaining Charter Member of the Midwest League, are playing their 62nd season in the league and their ninth as an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Since the club's inception in 1937, 270 former Clinton players have made it to the Major Leagues. The LumberKings play at historic Ashford University Field located off 6th Avenue North at 537 Ballpark Drive. Tickets to all 70 home games are available by calling (563) 242-0727 or by visiting lumberkings.com