Kernels end 8-game losing streak

BURLINGTON — Chad Christensen singled home the go-ahead run in a two-run ninth inning that lifted the Cedar Rapids Kernels to a 7-6 win over the Burlington Bees on Sunday afternoon at Community Field.

The win snapped an eight-game losing streak for Cedar Rapids (20-23), which begins a three-game home series against Beloit on Monday night at 6:35 at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Kernels rallied for three runs in the sixth inning to tie the game at 5-5. J.D. Williams led off the ninth with a double to left and scored on Christensen's one-out single to right.

A throwing error sent him to third base and he scored on a Bryan Haar sacrifice fly. Todd Van Steensel allowed a one-out home run in the bottom of the ninth inning but retired the next two hitters for his first professional save.

Derrick Penilla threw three shutout innings in relief of starting pitcher Ethan Mildren to record the win and even his record at 1-1. Every Kernels starter had at least one hit, including three apiece from Williams and Tanner Vavra.