West Michigan scores twice in 9th to walk off Kernels

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Reliever Cam Booser walked four consecutive hitters with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, then a wild pitch that scored the winning run in a tough 8-7 loss for the Cedar Rapids Kernels to West Michigan on Saturday night.

Booser came in to protect a 7-6 lead and struck out the first Whitecaps player he faced in the ninth. But Joey Pankake, Will Kengor, Zack Shepherd and Shane Zeile walked consecutively to tie things at 7-7.

With Francisco Contreras hitting, Booser (1-1) threw a wild pitch that scored Kengor to end it. The left-hander threw 30 pitches in the inning, only 10 for strikes.

The Kernels (35-21) had leads in the game of 3-0, 4-3 and 7-5. Max Murphy and Alex Real had three hits each for Cedar Rapids, with Real driving in three runs.

The Kernels had 13 hits, 12 singles and a J.J. Fernandez double. The teams play again Sunday afternoon at 12:05.

Before Saturday's game, the Kernels and parent Minnesota Twins announced that pitcher Michael Cederoth has been placed on the seven-day disabled list with an illness. His replacement on the active roster is right-handed pitcher Miles Nordgren, who comes from extended spring training.

He threw two innings Saturday night, in fact, allowing three runs.