5 guys combine for 2-hit shutout for C.R. Kernels

CEDAR RAPIDS — The bullpen took a manpower hit Wednesday, but there seems to be enough arms around to help offset that.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels had relief pitchers Tom Hackimer and Andrew Vasquez promoted to high-Class A Fort Myers. That's a combined four wins, six saves and 1.59 earned run average getting on a 6 a.m. flight out of town Thursday and heading to Florida.

Vasquez threw a scoreless inning Wednesday night in his swansong, part of a two-hitter that allowed Cedar Rapids to shut out Quad Cities, 3-0, before 2,180 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium. He was one of five guys to combine on the gem, which goes back to the initial point.

There are still guys like Colton Davis, Alex Robinson and Hector Lujan here. Lujan got the ninth inning and picked up his second save, recording a pair of strikeouts.

Davis, Robinson, Vasquez, Lujan and starter Tyler Wells combined for 17 Ks as Cedar Rapids stayed in a virtual tie for first place in the Midwest League's Western Division with Kane County. The Kernels (30-23) extended their lead over Quad Cities to three games.

'I feel like I can (close), but I also feel like every single guy in our bullpen can do that,' Lujan said. 'It's a team effort, every win. If one guy can't do it, then you've got to expect that the next guy will pick you up. That's one thing I feel like we've been pretty good at, picking each other up. That's what it's all about.'

Lujan has not given up an earned run in eight of his last nine appearances, so he's hot. Wells went to the disabled list two weeks ago also a hot pitcher, and his return didn't cool him off any.

The big right-hander was limited to a shade over 70 pitches, striking out 10 and giving up just one hit over four innings. Biceps tendonitis was what DLed him, but he said he felt great Wednesday.

'I thought I threw pretty good,' he said. 'I felt like I wasn't as sharp with my pitches. Not like in how my pitches worked, but more in my ability to locate my fastball on a consistent basis. Stuff like that. But I think that's going to progress as time goes on here.'

The Kernels didn't have a hit through five innings but scored an unearned run in the sixth and two earned runs to salt it away in the eighth. Lewin Diaz had both RBIs, on a sacrifice fly in the sixth and a double into the right-field corner in the eighth.

Diaz also scored on a wild pitch. The teams conclude their three-game series Thursday night at 6:35. By the way, Wells took Hackimer's spot on the active roster, and Logan Lombana claimed Vasquez's.

He was technically in extended spring training but never actually left Cedar Rapids.

'They pitched really well tonight. Really well,' Kernels Manager Tommy Watkins said. 'Wells was on a short leash, wanted to stay out there longer. I like Lujan there at the back of the pen. That guy works hard, always puts work in. He's in the weight room, getting here early. He goes about his business pretty good.'

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