Kernels win 5th straight

CLINTON - The Cedar Rapids Kernels exploded for seven runs in the sixth inning for a 7-4 win over the Clinton LumberKings in a rain-shortened Midwest League game Sunday afternoon.

Clinton scored once in the bottom of the seventh, but the score reverted back to the last completed inning. It's Cedar Rapids' fifth consecutive win and its sixth in seven games.

The Kernels (42-51, 11-12) have won the first four games of this pseudo five-game series. That includesvwinning the completion of a suspended extra-inning affair Friday night and a game Saturday night that was limited to seven innings because of rain.

Cedar Rapids trailed entering the sixth, 3-0, but sent 11 men to the plate. Alex Swim and Tanner Vavra had RBI singles and Ryan Walker a bases-loaded walk to tie things, then Swim scored on a fielding error.

A two-run single by Logan Wade and fielder's choice grounder by Chad Christensen made it a lucky seven runs.

Brandon Bixler (6-4) threw two relief innings, giving up a run, but got the pitching win.