Romero throws LumberKings to 2-0 win

Cedar Rapids, IA (April 13, 2018) - The Clinton LumberKings handed the Cedar Rapids Kernels their first loss of the season with a 2-0 win at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday night. LumberKings (5-3) pitchers Tommy Romero and Adonis De La Cruz combined to shutout the Kernels (6-1).
Romero (1-1) earned his first win of the season for the LumberKings with a six-inning shutout performance. The righty allowed just three base runners to reach against him during his time out and struck out eight.
De La Cruz followed out of the bullpen and worked three perfect innings of relief to earn his first save of the season. LumberKings pitching did not allow another Kernel to reach following a leadoff walk in the bottom of the third inning. Romero and De La Cruz combined to retire the final 20 batters of the game in order.
The strong pitching Clinton received did not require much offensive support. It took until the top of the fourth inning for the LumberKings to break the scoreless tie against Kernels starter Bryan Sammons (0-1). A leadoff double by Ariel Sandoval turned into the game's first run when Greifer Andrade singled to left. The LumberKings then loaded the bases but failed to tally another run when the Kernels turned one of their two double-plays to limit the damage in the inning to a single run.
Clinton added an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning. A leadoff walk by Eugene Helder combined with a walk and Kernels throwing error put a runner at third with nobody out. Johnny Adams then collected the RBI when he forced home Helder with a ground out to third.
The loss was the first of the season for the Kernels and the first win for the LumberKings on the road.
The LumberKings will continue their three-game series with the Cedar Rapids Kernels with game two on Saturday evening. Clinton will give the ball to left-hander Oliver Jaskie (0-0, 0.00) while the Kernels will tap righty Edwar Colina (0-0, 2.25) for the start. First pitch on Saturday is slated for 5:05 PM. Fans looking to listen to the call can hear Erik Oas at 4:50 with the pregame show on LumberKings.com.
About the LumberKings
The LumberKings, the only remaining Charter Member of the Midwest League, are in their 63rd season in the league and their 10th as an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Since the club's inception in 1937, 278 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. Advertising and tickets for the 2018 season are available by calling (563) 242-0727 or by visiting lumberkings.com