[rink23]

Record: 76-55, 2nd, 1.5 GB Cedar Rapids
Eric Gerhardt doubled off St. Louis closer Bobby Westerman, to scored Arnold Hammond and give Cedar Rapids a 7-6 win at Connie Mack Stadium (1960).
Westerman hit Hammond with a pitch to open the inning. He then reached second on a wild pitch.
After a strikeout of Tim Jurgensen, Gerhardt doubled on a 1-0 pitch into center to win it.
It was the first time since Westerman joined the River Walkers just prior to the trade deadline he has blown a save or lost a game.
The game featured plenty of offense early.
Rookie Jose Gonzalez hit a three-run homer in the top of the first inning off Grapplers starting pitcher Ivan Alonzo to highlight a three-run inning.
Jordan Batista did Gonzalez one better, hitting grand slam off St. Louis starter Jesse McNaboe in the bottom half to cap a five-run frame.
McNaboe (14-3) didn't even making it out of the first inning, exiting with one out still remaining.
St. Louis briefly took the lead with a pair of runs off reliever Lorenzo Mascorro in the top of the sixth.
Cedar Rapids tied it in the bottom half on a Dane Finch homer off Nick Strother.
Alonzo lasted 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on four hits. He struck out four and walked one.
Mascorro finished the fifth and worked the sixth when St. Louis briefly took the lead.
Ian Goshe pitched a spotless seventh and eighth innings for the Grapplers.
Keith Kirby (3-9) allowed a pair of base runners in the ninth, but with runners on second and third got Chris Duncan to fly out to end the inning.