Kernels scratch and claw way to 13-inning win

CEDAR RAPIDS - They're the worst team in the Midwest League, arguably the worst team in minor-league baseball. Hey, the numbers are what they are, folks.

But there is one thing you can't take away from the Cedar Rapids Kernels, and that's that they've played hard all summer despite their tough circumstance. Never was their collective character displayed more than Sunday afternoon/evening.

"Wins and losses are not really a factor at this point. So we're just going out there and playing our game. That's all we can control," said shortstop Eric Stamets, after C.R.'s rain-delayed, 9-8, 13-inning win over Beloit at Veterans Memorial Stadium. "We still have at-bats and stuff. Stats still count. We're still playing for each other. You come out here every day, and if you give up on yourself, you're giving up on everybody else in here."

Zach Borenstein sent this one to extras with a bases-clearing, two-out, two-strike double to left-center in the bottom of the ninth. Beloit went ahead in the top of the 13th, 8-7, when Nate Roberts was ruled safe after tagging up on a short fly to left, even though replays showed his reaching hand never touched the plate.

Reliever Joe Melioris, who gave the Kernels 3 1/3 terrific relief innings, was kicked out of the game for arguing the call.

Zach Wright walked leading off the bottom of the 13th and scored on a Drew Martinez one-out single to right. He stole second on a close play and scored when Alex Yarbrough bounced a two-out hit up the middle.

The dugout emptied, and Yarbrough was pounced upon. A feel-good moment for a team that hasn't had enough of them.

"I was pretty excited," said Manager Jamie Burke. "I came in here, and we had a little meeting. I just said ‘Hey, this is what we've been doing all year. Fight to the end.' It seems like we've always been on the wrong end of the stick. But today we were on the right end of the stick. That's great. Keep it going."

The Kernels are 50-82 overall, 18-44 in the Midwest League's second half. Their win total is the lowest of any of the 127 full-season minor-league teams.

Highly touted Minnesota Twins prospect Miguel Sano went 4-for-6 with three RBIs for Beloit. That included his league-leading 27th home run. He has a MWL-high 97 RBIs.

These clubs play again Monday night at 6:35.

Here is the game boxscore: