Kernels tally late to win third straight
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Noah Miller broke a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning with a two-out RBI single, Ben Ross added a bases-loaded walks, and the Cedar Rapids Kernels (21-12, 61-38) won their third straight game against the Lansing Lugnuts (13-20, 44-54), 7-5, on Thursday night
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Noah Miller broke a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning with a two-out RBI single, Ben Ross added a bases-loaded walks, and the Cedar Rapids Kernels (21-12, 61-38) won their third straight game against the Lansing Lugnuts (13-20, 44-54), 7-5, on Thursday night at Rise 2 Greatness Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The Lugnuts launched three home runs in the loss. Danny Bautista, Jr.’s third home run of the year opened the scoring in the first inning, and T.J. Schofield’s fifth-inning two-run shot and Brennan Milone’s sixth-inning solo blast rallied Lansing from a 5-1 deficit.
Power 🔛
— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) August 4, 2023
Lugnuts home runs tonight from @dannybautista29, @TJSchofieldSam and @MiloneBrennan 💪💪💪 pic.twitter.com/C8cgcdAuv0
But in the bottom of the eighth, Miller lined a pitch from Charles Hall into left-center to bring in Kyler Fedko from third base and untie the score. Hall then walked Emmanuel Rodriguez, Kala’I Rosario and Ross in succession to add insurance to the Kernels’ lead. Brock Whittlesey relieved Hall and retired Andrew Cossetti on a flyout to center to end the rally.
Junior Pérez doubled to right-center with two outs in the top of the ninth, but Niklas Rimmel set down Euribiel Ángeles on a groundout to second to end the game.
The Lugnuts finished with 13 base hits, including a three-hit game from Joshwan Wright and two hits apiece from Milone, Pérez, Schofield-Sam and Colby Thomas.
Lansing starter Jack Owen tossed the first three innings, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks with one strikeout. Mac Lardner followed with three innings, striking out five and allowing only one run, an Emmanuel Rodriguez solo home run, before yielding to Hall in the seventh.
Lugnuts right-hander Jose Dicochea (3.42 ERA) starts the fourth game of the six-game set at 6:35 p.m. local / 7:35 p.m. Eastern on Friday, opposed by Cedar Rapids left-hander Christian MacLeod (3.48).
The Nuts’ next home game is on August 8, beginning a two-week homestand against Fort Wayne and Great Lakes. Tickets are available via lansinglugnuts.com or by calling (517) 485-4500 during office hours.
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