CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - The Cedar Rapids Kernels defeated the Quad Cities River Bandits, 11-1, Thursday in the rubber game of a three-game series at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Sean Poppen tossed his ninth quality start in 10 outings to grab the win. All nine Kernels batters
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - The Cedar Rapids Kernels defeated the Quad Cities River Bandits, 11-1, Thursday in the rubber game of a three-game series at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Sean Poppen tossed his ninth quality start in 10 outings to grab the win. All nine Kernels batters reached safely, and Aaron Whitefield and Travis Blankenhorn hit home runs.
The Kernels (31-23) scored the first nine runs Thursday. Mitchell Kranson produced a two-run single in the first inning. Whitefield added a solo homer during the second. Cedar Rapids kicked off a five-run fourth inning with a two-run triple by Blankenhorn. Lewin Diaz and Jaylin Davis delivered RBI singles, and Diaz later scored due to an error. Blankenhorn also clubbed a solo shot in the fifth inning for a 9-0 Cedar Rapids lead.
Quad Cities (26-26) only tagged Poppen for an unearned run during the seventh. Ronnie Dawson reached on an error and would score on an RBI single by Raymond Henderson. Poppen (4-1) pitched 6.1 innings while allowing just five hits and one unearned run in a victorious start. He also added five strikeouts and secured a 16-inning scoreless streak dating back to May 22 that ended with Henderson's single.
In the bottom of the seventh, Cedar Rapids tallied two runs to reach its winning margin of 11-1. Hank Morrison came home after a throwing error, and Jermaine Palacios chimed in with an RBI single that plated Christian Cavaness. Palacios led all batters Thursday with three hits while Blankenhorn boasted a game-high three runs batted in. Davis, Kranson, and Whitefield joined Palacios and Blankenhorn with multi-hit performances.
Logan Lombana registered an efficient relief appearance to close the contest. He inherited two runners from Poppen with one out in the seventh and induced an inning-ending double play. He recorded perfect eighth and ninth innings to finish with 2.2 scoreless and hitless innings pitched after facing just seven batters.
The loss Thursday went to Quad Cities' Dustin Hunt (0-4). He gave up three runs over three innings pitched. Erasmo Pinales and Carson LaRue combined to allow the other eight Kernels runs over four frames collectively.
Coming up, Cedar Rapids starts a six-game road swing with a three-game series at the Burlington Bees. The Kernels and the Bees play at 6:30 p.m. Friday with southpaws Domenick Carlini IV (2-3, 5.65) and Nate Bertness (2-3, 6.39) starting for Cedar Rapids and Burlington, respectively. Follow the action with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com and www.kernels.com.
Cedar Rapids' next homestand runs from Friday, June 9 through Monday, June 12. Fans can purchase tickets for all 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 Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 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.
