CLINTON - The Clinton LumberKings built a 7-0 lead after four innings Saturday night and defeated the Kernels for the second straight time, 7-4, before 1,576 fans at Ashford University Field.

The Kernels will try to avoid a three-game sweep when they face Clinton Sunday at 2 p.m. as the first half of the Midwest League season comes to an end.

Sam Gibbons (1-2) had a rough start for Cedar Rapids. He was touched for eight hits and seven runs (six earned) in four innings. Miles Nordgren and Michael Theofanopoulos combined for four shutout innings in relief, but the Kernels could not recover from the 7-0 deficit.

Catcher Brian Navarreto went 3-for-4 for the Kernels. Shortstop Nick Gordon was 2-for-4. Max Murphy hit his third home run. Tanner English collected his 20th stolen base of the season.

KERNELS (4): English, cf, 4 0 0 1, Gordon, ss, 4 1 2 0, Corcino, rf, 4 0 1 1, Doe, dh, 4 0 1 0, Fernandez, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Murphy, lf, 4 1 1 1, White, 3b, 3 1 1 0, Navarreto, c, 4 1 3 0, Kelly, 2b, 4 0 1 1. Totals 35 4 10 4.

CLINTON (7): Fields, cf, 4 1 3 0, Peguero, 2b, 5 1 1 0, Mack, lf, 3 2 1 0, Morales, rf, 5 1 2 2, Zeutenhorst, dh, 4 0 1 1, DeCarlo, 3b, 3 1 2 1, Brito, 1b, 3 1 1 2, Alfonso, c, 4 0 3 1, Caballero, ss, 4 0 0 0. Totals 35 7 14 7.

Kernels     000 001 102 - 4 10 1
Clinton     402 100 00x - 7 14 2

Gibbons, Nordgren (5), Theofanopoulos (8) and Navarreto. Herb, Vieira (7), Kerski (9) and Alfonso. W - Herb (3-4). L - Gibbons (1-2). 2B - Gordon (8), White (7), DeCarlo (8). 3B - Morales (1). HR - Murphy (3). SB - English (20), Fields (12). E - Corcino (1), Fields (2), Peguero (2). T - 2:47 (:22 delay). A - 1,576.