Kernels rally in 9th, head to road

"Road" truly has been a four-letter word for the Cedar Rapids Kernels so far this Midwest League season. They're heading back there starting Tuesday with hopes they can make it a seven-letter word instead.

As in "playoffs."

The Kernels rallied from a 5-0 hole, scoring twice in the ninth inning for a 6-5 win over Lansing before 1,698 fans Monday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. The uplifting victory was the Men of Corn's fourth in a row, their eighth in nine games and ended a 5-1 homestand, moving their first-half record to 24-20.

Now there's this little 10-game road trip to Fort Wayne, Dayton and Wisconsin. While the Kernels have been terrific in their own ballpark, they've been terrible away from it, with a 7-14 mark.

Turn that around on this trip, however, and it could go a long way toward helping secure a rare first-half playoff berth. There's 26 games left, with the Kernels three games out of first place in the Western Division and tied for second and the final available first-half playoff spot in the division.

"We've got very good momentum, especially with this game today," said Kernels shortstop Adam Younger, who capped Monday's rally with a game-winning, two-run single to left. "This lifts our spirits. We've got a 10-game road trip, so this was good timing."

Four runs in the sixth inning gave Lansing (14-28) what appeared to be a secure five-run cushion, but Cedar Rapids came right back in the bottom of the sixth with three runs. An unearned run in the seventh made it a 5-4 game.

Matt Crawford and Roberto Lopez drew walks against Lansing closer Matt Daly (1-3) to begin the home ninth. Angel Castillo dropped a good sacrifice bunt down the first-base line with everyone reaching when Lugnuts first baseman Mike McDade inexplicably threw to third well late in an attempt to nab Crawford.

Younger followed by burning a drawn-in infield and outfield, one-hopping the fence in left to win the game.

"It's a neat thing we've got going right now, obviously," said Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello. "Today was an example of why you play nine innings."

Vladimir Veras (2-1) picked up the pitching win in relief. Starter Manuel Flores gave up 13 hits and all five Lansing runs in his six innings. Both teams finished with 13 hits. Jon Townsend, off the disabled list Sunday, had three for Cedar Rapids.

"We don't have many power guys, many big guys," said Younger of a team that has 16 home runs this season, second-lowest in the league. "But the guys that we have do what they do very well."

They hope that means a successful road trip. The Kernels won three straight at Burlington last week.

"We've got a three-game win streak on the road," Mosiello said. "I've already told you, if we pitch there, we'll win. That's how you solve anything.

"This is a big, big trip. A fun, fun time."