Sean Miller goes deep for 1st time in pro career, C.R. Kernels blank Clinton, 7-0

CEDAR RAPIDS - He showed his muscle off against schools like North Georgia and North Carolina-Pembroke. Something called Georgia Regents University-Augusta incurred his wrath.

But it was the Clinton LumberKings who took the brunt of Sean Miller's power Saturday afternoon.

The ever-so-slight infielder's first professional home run turned out to be an important one, a three-run blast that helped maneuver the Cedar Rapids Kernels past Clinton, 7-0, before 2,231 fans on a perfect spring afternoon at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

'He actually had two today,” kidded clubhouse manager Eric Oliver, walking past Miller in the clubhouse as the 'slugger” was being interviewed. 'He had one in batting practice, too.”

Miller, 21, played college ball at Division II South Carolina-Aiken. His previous longball came just about a year ago, April 25 in a 4-3 win over Flagler.

'Really?” Miller said, not remembering it.

With two on and none out in the third inning Saturday, he drove a fastball right down the pipe from Clinton starting pitcher Nick Wells into what used to be the hot-tub area on the left-field porch. It ended a 163 at-bat streak in pro ball without a homer.

Something must be in the water around the ballpark. Kernels teammate Luis Arraez hit his first pro home run Thursday night, after 331 ABs.

'Pretty good feeling because I've been struggling a little bit,” said Miller, who came in 3-for-17 in four games. 'I feel like I'm starting to get out of it, though, and this will help. I was just looking for a sacrifice fly, something to get the run in there.”

'The last two nights have been a little odd,” said Kernels Manager Jake Mauer. 'Guys who aren't supposed to be driving in runs are carrying us.” Arraez and catcher A.J. Murray had three hits apiece as Cedar Rapids (7-3) rebounded from a lopsided loss Friday night. Murray also homered.

Outfielder LaMonte Wade continued his slow-pitch softball-esque offensive start, going 2-for-2 with a double, triple and two RBIs. He is hitting .417, Arraez .409 after eight hits in his last three games.

'What can you say about LaMonte Wade? He's on everything,” Mauer said.”

Though the score might not indicate it, Clinton (5-4) was one hit away from making this a very interesting game. The LumberKings left 15 men on base, including 13 in the third through seventh innings.

They stranded the bases loaded in the fifth, sixth and seventh. Starting pitcher Sam Clay (1-0) went five scoreless and hasn't allowed a run in his first two starts (spanning 11 innings).

The teams conclude their four-game series Sunday afternoon at 2:05.

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com