Kernels hold off Captains 5-4

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Lake County Sentinel

Kernels hold off Captains 5-4

BY TIM SHIRER

CAPTAINS BEAT WRITER

(EASTLAKE, OH) - The Lake County Captains returned home on Wednesday to take on the visiting Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins). Both teams entered the game with solid records and both clinched Wild Card spots in the first half. The Captains entered with an over all record of 54-39 and 14-10 in the second half, meanwhile the Kernels entered with an overall record of 53-41 and 14-10 in the second half. The two teams did not disappoint as the game was for the most part a pitcher’s duel and the Kernels squeaked held off the Captains 5-4 in front of 1,852 at Classic Park.

The Kernels got on the board first in the first inning when Spencer Steer singled to lead off the game. Steer then stole second base, it was his first stolen base of the season. After Gilberto Celestino struck out, Gabe Snyder grounded out to second base and Speer moved to third base. After Captains starter Luis Oviedo issued a base on balls to Jared Akins Wander Javier doubled to right field and Steer scored.

The Kernels put their second run on the board in the second inning when Oviedo issued a base on balls to Tyler Webb to start the inning. Ricky De La Torre then singled, and Webb moved to second. Oviedo then uncorked a wild pitch and both runners moved up a base. After Yeltsin Encarnacion popped out, Steer grounded out to first base and Webb crossed home plate with the Kernel’s second run.

The Captains pulled to within one run in the third inning when Cedar Rapids starter Tyler Palm hit Miguel Jerez with a pitch to lead off the inning. After consecutive pop outs by Billy Wilson and Bo Naylor, Ruben Cardenas singled and moved Jerez to second base. Jose Fermin then reached base on a fielding error by Wander Javier, moving Jerez and Cardenas up a base each. Daniel Schneemann then singled and Jerez scored the Captains first run of the game, pulling to with in one run at 2-1.

The Kernels basically ended the drama of a pitcher’s duel/close game in the seventh inning when Akins with two men on base blasted a 440-foot home run down the right field putting Cedar Rapids on top 5-1. The blast came off Captains reliever Kyle Marman. All three runs were unearned as there was a passed ball by Naylor in the inning.

The Captains made things interesting in the ninth inning scoring three runs, but it was not enough. Lake County only had three base runners prior to the ninth inning but had five in the final inning.

Palm picked up the win for the Kernels. Palm went six innings allowing only the one run, it was unearned. He scattered four hits, issued one base on balls and struck out six Captains hitter. With the win he improves to 2-5 with a 3.82 ERA. Oviedo took the loss for Lake County. Oviedo went three and two thirds innings giving up two runs, both earned on three hits. He also issued three base on balls and struck out six Kernels hitters. With the loss Oviedo falls to 6-6 with a 5.40 ERA.

The Captains and Kernels will play game two on Thursday morning at 11:00 a.m. Luis Rijo will be on the mound for the Kernels. Rijo a righthander is 2-6 with a 2.37 ERA. The Captains will send Juan Mota to the hill. Mota who is also a righty enters the contest with a record of 3-6 and a 5.45 ERA..