Two-Out Rally Boosts Kernels in 6-2 Triumph

CLINTON, IOWA - Four runs with two outs in the seventh inning were the difference Friday as the Cedar Rapids Kernels defeated the Clinton LumberKings, 6-2, in the opener of a four-game series at Ashford University Field. Christian Cavaness and Travis Blankenhorn drove in two runs apiece with two-out hits during the decisive rally.
Friday's contest started as a pitchers' duel between Clinton's Brandon Miller and Cedar Rapids' Domenick Carlini IV. Miller posted a career-high nine strikeouts within a quality start while Carlini notched a personal-high-tying seven strikeouts in a solid appearance of his own.

Cedar Rapids (4-5, 43-36) tagged Miller for two solo shots in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead. Lewin Diaz led off with his ninth blast of the year. Two batters later, Hank Morrison clubbed his second career home run to double the advantage.
The LumberKings (2-7, 33-43) evened the score at 2-2 in the sixth inning. Yojhan Quevedo tripled against Carlini and stayed at third base until Nick Thurman drilled a two-run homer - his fourth round-tripper this season - to tie the contest.
Cavaness and Blankenhorn answered for the Kernels during the seventh. Two singles and an error on a sacrifice bunt loaded the bases against Ronald Dominguez. After Dominguez recorded back-to-back outs, Cavaness came through with a two-run single that plated Morrison and Caleb Hamilton. Blankenhorn added an RBI double to bring in Andre Jernigan and Cavaness to give Cedar Rapids a 6-2 lead.
Kernels relievers Ryan Mason and Colton Davis combined for 3.1 scoreless and hitless innings of relief to finish the game. Mason retired all four batters he faced between the sixth and the seventh. Davis pitched a perfect eighth inning and worked around an error in the ninth for the final outs. Both Mason and Davis tallied two strikeouts each.
Mason was credited as the winning pitcher Friday and improved to 1-1. Dominguez fell to 0-5 with the loss. He allowed four unearned runs over three frames.
Game two of this four-game series will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Cedar Rapids right-hander Clark Beeker (7-2, 2.89) and Clinton right-hander Robert Dugger (3-1, 2.39) are the probable pitchers. 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.
The next Kernels homestand begins Tuesday, July 4 and continues through Monday, July 10. Fans can purchase tickets for all 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. This weekend, the Kernels Ticket Office will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday and from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday.