4,944 see Kernels rout Clinton, 13-3

The offensive support helped. Thirteen runs helps any pitcher.

But Ariel Pena really didn't need much last night.

“He was good,” said Cedar Rapids Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello after his team's 13-3 blowout of Clinton before 4,944 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium. “He got away with some pitches he left up, but he did a good job.”

For most of his start, Pena (3-2) was reminiscent of the guy that pitches immediately ahead of him in the Kernels rotation. Fabio Martinez is a power-armed right-hander from the Dominican Republic who is five months younger (Pena is 21, Martinez 20).

Like Martinez, inconsistency has been an issue for Pena. He was rocked in three high-A starts and had a 5.57 ERA since being demoted to Cedar Rapids in late May.

But he got a lot of outs last night. Flashing a fastball consistently in the 91 to 96 mile-per-hour range, like Martinez, Pena allowed only four hits and no runs through seven innings.

“He made some really good pitches,” said Kernels pitching coach Brandon Emanuel. “He had a really good slider tonight.”

Pena appeared to tire in the eighth, giving up three straight hits before being pulled in favor of Manuarys Correa. Still, this was a major step forward.

“A better delivery,” he said, with the aid of teammate Ricky Alvarez. “A good finish (to his pitches) … I've been working on my mechanics.”

The Kernels (48-29, 5-4 second half) took advantage of less-than-efficient Clinton defense en route to a rout. The L-Kings had five errors in a loss Friday night and followed that up with three more here, including a pair of misplays by right fielder James Jones that gift-carded the Kernels a 4-0 lead after two innings.

Cedar Rapids had only eight hits but did draw eight walks. Jon Karcich capped this crowning with his first home run of the season, a three-run blast in the eighth.

“When we get hits and run the bases like we want, we're a fun team to watch,” Mosiello said. “You can't do it better.”

Wisconsin comes to town for three games, including this afternoon at 5.