Showdown in Cedar Rapids: Cubs Ride Off Victorious

It was a hot one in Cedar Rapids, and the South Bend Cubs came to town lookin’ to even some scores and rustle up a win.

Young Ryan Gallagher took the mound like a seasoned gunslinger, evening his record at 4 wins and 4 losses. He threw six frames, gave up seven hits, four earned runs, and sat down six batters with his fastball straight as a rifle shot.

The Cubs struck first blood in the top of the second, when Brian Kalmer roped a single to center to bring Andy Garriola gallopin’ home — 1–0 South Bend. In the fourth, Garriola got in on the action himself, sendin’ a base hit to right field that brought Jefferson Rojas and Cristian Hernandez across the plate. Cubs were up 3–0 and feelin’ mighty fine.

But the Kernels weren’t about to fold that easy. They clawed their way back with two runs in the fifth and another pair in the sixth, takin’ a 4–3 lead and makin’ folks nervous in the visitor dugout.

Then came the 7th. Two outs, Garriola on first after a single and a sneaky stolen base — his fifth of the year. Cameron Sisneros stepped up to the plate, stared down Jacob Kisting, and after fallin’ behind 1–2, launched his first home run in the Midwest League into the Cedar Rapids twilight. That ball might still be travelin’. Cubs jumped ahead 5–4.

The bottom of the 7th was a real saloon brawl. Kenton Egbert found himself in a mess of trouble, leadoff double, bases loaded — but he kept his cool. When Misael Urbina rolled one to short, Cristian Hernandez scooped it clean and ended the threat. No damage done.

In the 9th, Brayden Risedorph rode in like the town marshal, shutting things down without so much as a scuff on his boots. That clean frame earned him his second save, and the Cubs rode off with a 5–4 win.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.