SERIES PREVIEW: Kernels @ Burlington

CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (20-14) @ BURLINGTON BEES (24-9)

Games Played At: COMMUNITY FIELD IN BURLINGTON, IA

Last 10 Games: Cedar Rapids (4-6) Burlington (7-3)

Cedar Rapids on the Road: 10-8

Burlington at Home: (10-2)

The Bees took 2 out of 3 from the Kernels last week at Perfect Game Field. The Kernels have dropped four games in a row coming into the series.

Pitching Rotation:

Game 1: Friday @ 6:30 CR: LHP Max Russell vs. Bur: LHP Jacob Brown (4-0, 1.24)

Russell's last two starts have been excellent. The last two starts have been wins and he has pitched a combined 14 innings and allowed only one run on six hits. He struck out 10 and walked three in the two starts. Brown started last on Sunday at Clinton. He was the winning pitcher, going six innings and allowing two runs (no earned). He struck out six and walked none. In 36.1 innings so far this year Brown has struck out 30 and walked only 3. Brown has went five innings in all six of his starts this season.

Game 2: Saturday @ 6:30 CR: RHP Heath Nichols vs. Bur: RHP Blake Hassebrock (2-0, 0.79)

Nichols last started on Monday against Beloit at Perfect Game Field. In a no decision he went six innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits. He struck out five and walked none. Hassebrock leads the Midwest League with a 0.79 ERA. He started on Monday at Clinton and got the win. He allowed one run and five hits over six innings. He struck out three and walked one. He has gone at least five innings in all six of his starts this season. This is a rematch of the game at Perfect Game Field on May 4. The game went 17 innings and resulted in a Kernels 4-3 win. Nichols went six innings and allowed three runs on four hits while striking out five and walking one. Hassebrock pitched six innings against the Kernels on May 4. The Kernels recorded the first two earned runs against Hassebrock on the season. He went six innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits. He struck out six Kernels and walked one.

Game 3: Sunday @ 2:00 CR: RHP Suammy Baez vs Bur: RHP: A.J. Griffin (3-0, 1.75)

Baez was scratched from his scheduled start on Tuesday at Wisconsin. His last start was against Burlington on May 5th against the Bees, a Burlington 6-5 victory. Baez went 6.2 innings and allowed five runs on five hits in a no decision. He struck out four and walked four. Griffin leads the Midwest League with 46.1 innings pitched. He last started on Tuesday at home versus Peoria. He picked up a no decision in 6.2 innings while allowing one unearned run on seven hits. He struck out four and walked one. Griffin has struck out 44 and walked only 4 batters in 46.1 innings this season. He has gone at least six innings in all seven of his starts. He faced the Kernels on May 5. He recorded a no decision in seven innings while allowing four runs on eight hits. He struck out four and walked none. The four runs allowed were the most runs given up by Griffin all season.

By: Morgan Hawk, Kernels radio broadcaster