Cedar Rapids Kernels at Clinton Lumberkings
April 21st, 2004
| Cedar Rapids |
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1 |
0 |
1 |
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0 |
2 |
0 |
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1 |
0 |
0 |
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5 |
8 |
1 |
| Clinton |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
2 |
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2 |
5 |
1 |
E-Cosby, Frostad, LOB CR-4, CLI-7, 2B-Wood, Maher, HR-Wood, SB-Kimpton, CS-Rodriguez, Bubela
HBP-Cosby (Sarmiento), WP-Jepsen, Cunningham
Umpires-Mark Ripperger, Clint Mahan
T-2:31, A-423
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Poor field conditions turned a scheduled double header into a single game last night at Alliant Energy Field, a 5-2 Midwest League baseball victory for the Cedar Rapids Kernels against the Clinton Lumberkings.
The double header will be played today, starting at 5pm.
The Kernels scored single runs in the first and third innings, then tacked on two more in the fifth and another in the seventh for a 5-0 lead. Clinton didn't score until picking up two runs in the ninth inning against Kernels relief pitcher Scott Hindman.
VonStertzbach came on to get the final two outs for his second save, preserving the win for starter Kevin Jepsen (2-1).
Brandon Wood had three hits and three RBIs for the Kernels, who improved to 8-4. Nick Kimpton had two hits and drove in a run.
Clinton Herald
by Jon Gremmels
Drying out a wet infield forced Clinton to turn a scheduled doubleheader into a single game, then Brandon Wood doused the Lumberkings' hopes of winning once the game finally got going.
Wood went 3 for 4 including a home run and three runs batted in, Wednesday to lead the Cedar Rapids Kernels past Clinton 5-2 in Midwest League baseball at Alliant Energy Field.
The Kernels have won four of five games against the Lumberkings this season and improved to 8-4 in the standings, a half game behind Western Division leading Kane County. Wood has played a key role in the recent two games between Cedar Rapids and Clinton (6-6). He's a combined 5 for 9 with two homeruns, two doubles and eight runs batted. He ranks second in the league in the latter category with 14.
"I was out in front on a couple of pitches tonight, but that's baseball." said Wood, a shortstop who was the 23rd player selected in the first round of last June's draft. Wood also started a game ending double play with the tying run at home plate. "They scored a couple of runs, but Von (Sterzbach) did a great job of getting the groundball." Wood said, referring to the Kerenls closer. "He did all the hard work. He gave me a nice, easy ground ball."
Sterzbach needed just four pitches to earn his third save by retiring Tobin Swope the only batter he faced, with Clinton's leading hitter Ian Kinsler on deck. It came after four consecutive Lumberkings reached base and they scored their only runs.
"We're pushing for that, playing 27 outs." Clinton manager Carlos Subero said. "Sure, we wanted Kinsler up, being out hottest hitter, but things happen. I thought Swope had a good at bat."
Clinton started it's ninth inning rally with successive one out walks to Kevin Richard, Larry Grayson and Brock Jacobsen off reliever Scott Hindman. Emerson Frostad singled up the middle to score Richardson and Grayson scored, too when centerfielder Quan Cosby didn't come up with the ball cleanly. Then Sterzbach came in and finished off the victory.
"We got good pitching and good defense." Cedar Rapids manager Bobby Magallanes said. "You do that and you'll win a lot of games.
Starter Kevin Jepsen (2-1) held Clinton in check for the first six innings, blanking the Lumberkings on four hits. Hindman replaced him and retired seven of the first eight batters he faced. before running into trouble.
The Kernels weren't too shabby on offense either. Singles by Howie Kendrick and Wood set up their first run, a two out run scoring single by Blake Balkcom in the first inning off losing pitcher Williams Sarmiento (0-1).
Wood made it a 2-0 lead in the third inning with a two out solo home run, his third home run of the season. "I believe it was a changeup and I just put a decent swing on it." he said. Wood did even more damage in his next at bat, even with a lesser swing.
He came up with two outs and runners on second and third in the fifth inning. Despite appearing fooled on the pitch from Tim Cunningham. Wood took and awkward swing and managed to softly hit a two run double into shallow left field. "He threw a good changeup and I flung my hands out and got lucky." Wood said.
The Kernels scored their final run in the seventh inning when Sean Rodriguez walked, moved to second base on a wild pitch and scored on Nick Kimpton's single.
Wednesday's start was delayed 2 hours, 16 minutes because additional work was required to make a couple of wet spots on the infield playable. As a result the scheduled doubleheader became a single game and antoher doubleheader was scheduled for 5 pm today. Jesse Chavez (2-1, 5.79) and Matt Lorenzo (0-0, 0.75) are scheduled to start for Clinton. While Cedar Rapids will go with Micah Posey (2-0, 1.00) and Michel Simard (1-0, 2.53)