BURLINGTON, IOWA - Austin Schulfer matched career highs with eight strikeouts and six innings pitched Tuesday evening at Community Field in a 3-1 Cedar Rapids Kernels triumph over the Burlington Bees. He joined Josh Winder with a team-high six victories apiece as the Kernels improved to 6-6 in the second
BURLINGTON, IOWA - Austin Schulfer matched career highs with eight strikeouts and six innings pitched Tuesday evening at Community Field in a 3-1 Cedar Rapids Kernels triumph over the Burlington Bees. He joined Josh Winder with a team-high six victories apiece as the Kernels improved to 6-6 in the second half and 45-37 overall.
Schulfer (6-4) notched his third professional quality start while receiving credit for the win. He yielded an unearned run when Harrison Wenson scored via wild pitch in the second inning, but he did not surrender another run. Schulfer struck out five of his first seven batters faced and finished with his third eight-strikeout performance of the season.
Robinson Pina (4-4) carried a shutout into the fifth for Burlington (4-8, 43-39) until Cedar Rapids surged ahead, 2-1. Gabe Snyder's two-out RBI single drove in Estamy Urena to bring the Kernels level. Parker Joe Robinson replaced Pina and induced a groundball from Chris Williams, but a pair of Bees errors on the play allowed Snyder to come home.
Daniel Ozoria added a run in the seventh inning for a 3-1 Kernels advantage. Ozoria led off with a bunt single and reached third base on a steal coupled with a wild pitch. Jacob Pearson hit a sacrifice fly and drove in Ozoria.
Alex Schick and Tanner Howell each provided scoreless relief to secure the victory. Schick tossed two innings and earned the first hold of his professional career. Howell danced out of danger in the ninth inning and picked up his second save.
Pina led all pitchers Tuesday with a career-high-tying 10 strikeouts but was tagged for the loss. Dylan King posted four shutout innings in relief.
Wednesday's contest between Cedar Rapids and Burlington is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and Kernels right-hander Tyler Palm (1-4, 4.73) will pitch against Bees right-hander Cole Duensing (5-4, 4.48). Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will call the action on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com and www.kernels.com.
Cedar Rapids will host its next homestand Thursday, July 4 and Friday, July 5. Fans can purchase tickets for all Cedar Rapids 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 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.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
