Steer, Six-Run Sixth Lift Kernels to Victory

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Spencer Steer’s first professional multi-homer game and a six-run go-ahead rally during the sixth inning Sunday highlighted an 11-3 Cedar Rapids Kernels win against the Fort Wayne TinCaps at Parkview Field. Cedar Rapids (13-17) and Fort Wayne (13-16) finished the series with a 3-3 split.

Steer provided a quick 1-0 Kernels lead in the top of the first. He launched the second pitch of the game over the left-field wall for the first game-opening home run hit by a Cedar Rapids batter since Steer himself accomplished that feat August 17, 2019 at the Quad Cities River Bandits.

The TinCaps tied the game within the fourth before jumping in front during the fifth. Luis Almanzar leveled the contest with an RBI single. Agustin Ruiz delivered a two-run fifth-inning blast to give Fort Wayne its 3-1 advantage.

Cedar Rapids started the sixth inning with six consecutive hits to score six runs and regain the lead at 7-3. Trey Cabbage doubled and scored on a Jair Camargo single. Alex Isola added a single, and Michael Helman doubled to drive in both runners. Max Smith hit an RBI single, and Steer followed with a two-run clout for his second round-tripper of the afternoon.

Tallies in the eighth and ninth extended the scoring streak to 10 unanswered Kernels runs. Seth Gray’s sacrifice fly, Wander Javier’s run-scoring single, and Cabbage’s RBI groundout came within the eighth. Smith grounded into a ninth-inning RBI force out that capped the scoring in an 11-3 triumph.

Jonathan Cheshire (2-2) picked up his second victory of the series while Austin Smith (0-1) suffered his first loss this year. Cheshire faced the minimum over 2.2 scoreless and hitless frames. Smith was tagged for six runs and six hits in one-plus inning pitched.

This 12-game road swing continues next week in Wisconsin with a six-game visit to the Beloit Snappers. Tuesday’s series opener is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CT at Pohlman Field. Online audio coverage of Kernels baseball during the 2021 season is available on www.kernels.com.

Cedar Rapids will host its next homestand from June 15 through June 27. 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.