Kernels pop Cougars in 12 innings

In a seesaw battle Friday night, Travis Harrison finally delivered the goods with a walk-off RBI single in the 12th inning to lead the host Cedar Rapids Kernels to a 4-3 victory over the Kane County Cougars.

After the Cougars (9-20) danced around trouble by stranding runners in scoring position in both the 10th and 11th innings, Nathan Dorris walked the leadoff hitter in the 12th.

A sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch moved Jorge Polanco to third base with one out. Cedar Rapids’ third baseman Travis Harrison followed by scalding a shot down the third-base line past Jeimer Candelario to drive in the winning run.

In his second start of the season, the Cougars’ Dillon Maples worked 5 innings and allowed 2 runs on 2 hits. Lendy Castillo followed Maples and worked around trouble by stranding five runners in scoring position over 5 innings.

The Cougars tied the game in the eighth. Kernels’ starter Tyler Duffy was knocked out of the game in that inning when Bijan Rademacher reached on a bunt single. David Hurlbut relieved Duffy and gave up a bloop hit to Dan Vogelbach that scored Rademacher (3-for-5, 2 runs scored). Jeimer Candelario added 2 hits.