Kernels tumble in home opener, 12-7

April 7, 2008 – Home runs by Jeremy Moore and Tyler Johnson weren’t enough to overcome some unusual wildness by the Kernels bullpen as they dropped the 2008 MWL home opener to Quad City, 12-7, in front of 1,526 chilly fans at Dale and Thomas Popcorn Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Kernels jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead on a two run HR by Jeremy Moore in the second inning. Quad City took at 4-3 lead in the third on a 3 run HR by Andrew Brown, but the Kernels rallied to take a 7-4 advantage with a solo home run by Tyler Johnson.

Quad City had back-to-back four run innings in the seventh and eighth innings as a depleted Kernel bullpen issued six walks over the final two innings. Catcher Cody Collet was pressed into service as he threw 1.1 scoreless innings, issuing two walks and striking out one.

The Kernels had 11 hits as Efren Navarro, Johnson and Moore each had two hits. Donato Giovanatto had 2 RBI with a double and Jay Brossman extended his hitting streak to five games, going 1-5 with a run scored.

Kernels starter Trevor Reckling left the game in the third inning after being struck by a line drive. He allowed four runs on four hits and struck out three over 2.2 innings. Reliever Eddie McKiernan (0-1) picked up the loss, throwing 4.1 innings of relief and allowing four runs on five hits with three strikeouts.

Cardoza Tucker, Jr. (1-0) picked up the win in relief as he allowed a run on two hits over the final four innings. He walked one and struck out eight.

Game two of this four game series between the Kernels and River Bandits is scheduled for 6:30 pm on Tuesday, April 8. It’s a 1600 ESPN Sports Radio Triple Play Combo night where fans can purchase a regular sandwich, chips or popcorn and beverage for just $6. Gates open at 5:30 pm.

Tickets can be purchased on-line at www.kernels.com, or by calling the Kernels Ticket Office at 896-7560. Ticket office hours are 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, and 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday.

                        QC River Bandits at Cedar Rapids Kernels
                 Apr 07, 2008 at Cedar Rapids, IA (Veterans Memorial)

  QC River Bandits 12 (3-2)                     Cedar Rapids Kernels 7 (1-4)

  Player                      AB  R  H BI       Player                      AB  R  H BI
  ---------------------------------------       ---------------------------------------
  Roberson, Justin cf........  5  3  2  1       Moore, Jeremy lf...........  5  1  2  2
  Kozma, Pete ss.............  4  2  2  2       Romine, Andrew ss..........  5  1  1  0
  Brown, Andrew 1b...........  4  2  2  5       Brossman, Jay 3b...........  4  1  1  0
  Arburr, Matthew dh.........  3  1  0  1       Gronkowski, Gordie dh......  4  1  1  0
  Bolivar, Domnit 3b.........  3  0  1  3       Navarro, Efren 1b..........  4  0  2  1
  Chambers, Adron lf.........  4  0  1  0       Giovanatto, Donato cf......  3  0  1  2
  Riportella, Beau rf........  5  0  0  0        Fuller, Clay cf...........  1  0  0  0
  Carpenter, Dave c..........  4  1  0  0       De Los Santos, Anel c......  4  0  0  0
  Foli, Mike 2b..............  4  3  2  0       Johnson, Tyler rf..........  4  2  2  1
  Eager, Thomas p............  0  0  0  0       Gonzalez, Jerry 2b.........  3  1  1  1
   Fiske, Justin p...........  0  0  0  0       Reckling, Trevor p.........  0  0  0  0
   Tucker, Carlos p..........  0  0  0  0        McKiernan, Eddie p........  0  0  0  0
                                                 Carmona, Ysmael p.........  0  0  0  0
                                                 Collet, Cody p............  0  0  0  0

  Totals..................... 36 12 10 12       Totals..................... 37  7 11  7

  Score by Innings                    R  H  E
  -------------------------------------------
  QC River Bandits.... 004 000 440 - 12 10  2
  Cedar Rapids Kernels 120 121 000 -  7 11  2
  -------------------------------------------

  E - Roberson, J(2); Foli, M(1); Navarro, E(2); DeLosSantos(2). DP - Kernels 1. LOB -
  Quad City 6; Kernels 6. 2B - Roberson, J(1); Bolivar, D(2); Foli, M(1); Romine,
  A(2); Giovanatto(1); Johnson, T(2). HR - Brown, A(1); Moore, J(1); Johnson, T(2). CS
  - Brossman, J(1).

  QC River Bandits               IP  H  R ER BB SO  WP BK HP IBB  AB BF  FO GO
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Eager, Thomas .............   3.2  7  4  4  1  2   1  0  0  0   18 19   3  6
  Fiske, Justin .............   1.1  2  2  2  1  1   0  0  0  0    5  6   1  1
  Tucker, Carlos  W,1-0......   4.0  2  1  1  1  8   0  0  0  0   14 15   3  0

  Cedar Rapids Kernels           IP  H  R ER BB SO  WP BK HP IBB  AB BF  FO GO
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Reckling, Trevor ..........   2.2  4  4  3  2  3   1  0  0  0   13 15   2  3
  McKiernan, Eddie  L,0-1....   4.1  5  4  4  1  3   0  0  0  0   16 17   4  4
  Carmona, Ysmael ...........   0.2  1  4  4  4  0   0  0  0  0    3  7   1  1
  Collet, Cody ..............   1.1  0  0  0  2  1   0  0  0  0    4  6   2  1

  WP - Eager, T; Reckling, T.

  Strikeouts - Roberson, J 2; Kozma, P; Arburr, M; Riportella,B 2; Foli, M; Moore, J;
  Brossman, J 2; Gronkowski,G; Navarro, E 2; Fuller, C; DeLosSantos; Johnson, T 2;
  Gonzalez, J. Walks - Kozma, P; Brown, A; Arburr, M 2; Bolivar, D 2; Chambers, A;
  Carpenter, D; Foli, M; Brossman, J; Gronkowski,G; Gonzalez, J.

  Umpires - HP: Jason Alper  1B: Justin Sassaman
  Start: 12:09   Time: 2:57   Attendance: 1526