Logan Porter’s walk-off homer gives Quad Cities Game 4 win over Cedar Rapids Kernels

DAVENPORT — Logan Porter led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a solo home run to left field that gave the Quad Cities River Bandits a 2-1 win over the Cedar Rapids Kernels in an ultra-tense Game 4 of their High-Class A Central League Championship Series.

The clubs have split the first four games of this series and will have a one-off for the title Sunday night at 6:30 at Modern Woodmen Park.

Aaron Sabato hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth to give the Kernels a 1-0 lead. But a two-out walk from Kernels starting pitcher Sawyer Gipson-Long in the bottom half of the inning was critical, as leadoff hitter Maikel Garcia followed with a double to left to score William Hancock with the tying run.

The Kernels had the bases loaded and one out in the top of the eighth inning, but Quad Cities relief pitcher Will Klein struck out Sabato and Matt Wallner consecutive to end that threat.

Cedar Rapids went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position in the game and ended up stranding 11 runners.

The Kernels are seeking their first Midwest League/High-A Central League title since 1994.

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