Fuller, Jimenez bring Kernels extra inning win over Bees, 7-5

April 29, 2008 – Clay Fuller’s solo home run in the top of the 14^th inning broke open a 5-5 tie and helped propel the Cedar Rapids Kernels over the Burlington Bees, 7-5, in 14 innings at Community Field in Burlington on Tuesday night.

Gordie Gronkowski followed Fuller’s home run with an insurance RBI double, scoring Jerry Gonzalez, who was hit by a pitch and stole second base. Fuller finished the night 3 for 5 with a HR, two doubles and three runs scored. Gronkowski was 2 for 7 with a double, RBI and a run scored.

Kernels reliever Esmerlin Jimenez (1-1) scattered four hits and struck out four over four innings of relief to get the win. Starter Mason Tobin allowed three runs on five hits, walked three and struck out two over seven innings. Burlington reliever Henry Arias (2-1) gave up two runs on four hits over 3.1 innings to take the loss.

The Kernels had 14 hits in the game with eight doubles and two home runs. Anel De Los Santos hit a two run HR in the second inning, his second of the season, and the fourth home run in as many games for the Kernels. De Los Santos was 3 for 6 with 2 RBI and Jay Brossman was 3 for 7 with two doubles, an RBI and run scored.

The win improves the Kernels record to a seasons-best 14-10 as Burlington falls to 10-14. The Kernels go for the series sweep tomorrow night at 6:30 pm against the Bees at Community Field as Trevor Reckling takes the hill for Cedar Rapids. Listen to John Rodgers call all the action on the internet at www.kernels.com, or on 1450 KMRY in eastern Iowa.

The next home game at Dale and Thomas Popcorn Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium is Monday, May 5^th when the Kernels open a three game series with the Peoria Chiefs and their hall of fame manager, Ryne Sandberg. This is the ONLY time the Chiefs come to Cedar Rapids this season, and tickets for this three game series are available on-line at www.kernels.com, or by calling the Kernels Ticket Office at 896-7560 from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, and from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday.

                        Cedar Rapids Kernels at Burlington Bees
                    Apr 29, 2008 at Burlington, IA (Community Field)

  Cedar Rapids Kernels 7 (14-10)                Burlington Bees 5 (10-14)

  Player                      AB  R  H BI       Player                      AB  R  H BI
  ---------------------------------------       ---------------------------------------
  Fuller, Clay cf............  5  3  3  1       Ortiz, Adrian lf...........  6  0  1  0
  Gonzalez, Jerry ss/2b......  6  1  1  1       Lough, David cf............  5  1  0  1
  Navarro, Efren 1b..........  5  0  2  1       Moustakas, Mike ss.........  6  0  0  0
  Gronkowski, Gordie dh......  7  1  2  1       Taylor, Jason 3b...........  5  1  1  0
  Brossman, Jay 3b...........  7  1  3  1       Robinson, Clint 1b.........  3  0  0  0
  Perez, Julio rf............  5  0  0  0        Jimenez, Antonio pr/1b....  3  1  0  0
  De Los Santos, Anel c......  6  1  3  2       Walton, Jamar rf...........  6  0  3  1
  Johnson, Tyler lf..........  5  0  0  0       Perez, Alwin dh............  6  1  2  1
   Romine, Andrew ss.........  1  0  0  0       Egisti, Ryan c.............  5  0  1  1
  Contreras, Ivan 2b.........  4  0  0  0       Evangelho, Zach 2b.........  6  1  3  1
   Moore, Jeremy ph/lf.......  2  0  0  0       Mitchell, Matt p...........  0  0  0  0
  Tobin, Mason p.............  0  0  0  0        Augustine, Joe p..........  0  0  0  0
   Davitt, Michael p.........  0  0  0  0        Arias, Henry p............  0  0  0  0
   Brasier, Ryan p...........  0  0  0  0
   Jimenez, Esmerlin p.......  0  0  0  0

  Totals..................... 53  7 14  7       Totals..................... 51  5 11  5

  Score by Innings                           R  H  E
  --------------------------------------------------
  Cedar Rapids Kernels 031 010 000 000 02 -  7 14  1
  Burlington Bees..... 000 001 220 000 00 -  5 11  1
  --------------------------------------------------

  E - Brasier, R(1); Walton, J(1). DP - Burlington 2. LOB - Kernels 10; Burlington 12.
  2B - Fuller, C 2(4); Gonzalez, J(2); Navarro, E 2(7); Gronkowski,G(3); Brossman, J
  2(9); Taylor, J(2); Walton, J(3); Perez, A(2); Evangelho, Z 2(2). HR - Fuller, C(1);
  DeLosSantos(2). HBP - Fuller, C; Gonzalez, J; Eigsti, R. SF - Lough, D. SB -
  Gonzalez, J(3). CS - Ortiz, A(2).

  Cedar Rapids Kernels           IP  H  R ER BB SO  WP BK HP IBB  AB BF  FO GO
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Tobin, Mason ..............   7.0  5  3  3  3  2   0  0  0  0   24 28  11  7
  Davitt, Michael ...........   0.2  2  2  2  2  0   0  0  0  0    4  6   1  1
  Brasier, Ryan .............   2.1  1  0  0  0  4   0  0  1  0    9 10   3  0
  Jimenez, Esmerlin  W,1-1...   4.0  3  0  0  1  4   0  0  0  0   14 15   1  6

  Burlington Bees                IP  H  R ER BB SO  WP BK HP IBB  AB BF  FO GO
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Mitchell, Matt ............   4.2  8  5  5  2  3   1  0  0  0   20 22   5  4
  Augustine, Joe ............   6.0  2  0  0  2 10   0  0  1  0   19 22   5  2
  Arias, Henry  L,2-1........   3.1  4  2  2  0  3   0  0  1  0   14 15   6  1

  WP - Mitchell, M. HBP - by Augustine, J (Fuller, C); by Brasier, R (Eigsti, R); by
  Arias, H (Gonzalez, J). PB - Eigsti, R(3).

  Strikeouts - Navarro, E; Gronkowski,G 3; Brossman, J; Perez, J 3; DeLosSantos 2;
  Johnson, T 2; Romine, A; Contreras, I 2; Moore, J; Lough, D 2; Moustakas, M; Taylor,
  J 2; Jimenez, A 3; Eigsti, R; Evangelho, Z. Walks - Fuller, C; Navarro, E 2; Perez,
  J; Ortiz, A; Lough, D; Moustakas, M; Taylor, J 2; Robinson, C.

  Umpires - HP: Ryan Blakney  1B: Benjamin May
  Start: 6:30   Time: 4:06   Attendance: 371