Rijo, Solo Shots Highlight 2-1 Victory

GRAND CHUTE, WIS. - Luis Rijo provided a dominant seven-inning start Thursday at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium to win a 2-1 decision Thursday for the Cedar Rapids Kernels against Los Cascabeles de Wisconsin - the "Copa de la Diversión" identity of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
Rijo (5-7) faced two batters over the minimum and earned the victory. He retired 14 consecutive batters during one stretch and led all pitchers with nine strikeouts. Rijo gave up singles to Je'Von Ward and Pablo Abreu in an otherwise flawless appearance over a career-high-tying seven scoreless innings.

Gilberto Celestino lifted Cedar Rapids (30-22, 69-53) to a 1-0 advantage in the first inning. He belted a one-out solo shot within the opening stanza and became the fourth Kernels hitter to reach double digits in home runs this season.
Wander Javier added a solo blast of his own for a 2-0 lead during the fourth. Javier's no-doubter was his ninth round-tripper this year and the 100th homer overall for Cedar Rapids which currently tops the Midwest League in that category.
Plover, Wisconsin native Austin Schulfer posted his first professional save to complete the victory against Wisconsin (28-24, 59-62). He was perfect in the eighth inning, but he yielded a two-out RBI single to Thomas Dillard in the ninth. Two batters later, Schulfer induced a 1-4-3 game-ending groundout to secure the 2-1 triumph.
Luis Contreras dropped to 1-2 with the loss Thursday. Contreras allowed two runs in 4.1 innings pitched. He registered a team-high four strikeouts.
This three-game series closes Friday with first pitch at 7:05 p.m., and Kernels right-hander Matt Canterino (0-0, 1.80) will square off with Timber Rattlers left-hander Ethan Small (0-0, 0.00) in a matchup of 2019 draft picks. Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will have the call on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com and www.kernels.com.
Fans can purchase tickets for all 2019 Cedar Rapids Kernels home games including the playoff opener September 4 against the Quad Cities River Bandits 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.