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Walkers news: May 1 -- Cedar Rapids 3, St. Louis 2
Record: 10-18, 7th, 6.5 GB Cedar Rapids
Eric Gerhardt hit a one-out homer off St. Louis rookie starting pitcher Nate Simmons in the bottom of the seventh inning, snapping a 2-2 tie and helping lift Cedar Rapids to a 3-2 win at Connie Mack Stadium (1960).
Simmons had pitched well through the first six innings, and with his pitch count under 100 decided to send him out for a seventh because of a worn-out bullpen.
Gerhardt made them pay, powering a 3-2 pitch 440 feet over the high wall in right field to give the Grapplers the lead for good.
The River Walkers had tied it 2-2 in the top of the sixth when Mark Herman took Cedar Rapids reliever Daniel Johnson over the wall.
Grapplers starting pitcher Francisco Velasco went five innings, allowing one run on six hits. He struck out four and didn't walk a batter.
Daniel Johnson began a streak of four relievers who all pitched one inning for Cedar Rapids.
Alex Parodi (1-0) earned the win after pitching a scoreless top of the seventh.
Antonio Echevaria took care of the eighth.
Jeff Durako earned his fifth save with a scoreless ninth.
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