CLINTON - The Cedar Rapids Kernels held off a late rally by the Clinton LumberKings Saturday and held on to win, 7-6, in a Midwest League game before 552 fans at Ashford University Field.

The victory lifted the Kernels over the .500 mark to 11-10.

The Kernels led 7-2 going into the bottom of the eighth inning, but the LumberKings tallied four runs to cut the lead to 7-6 before the Kernels escaped further damage.

Zach Larson paced Cedar Rapids, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. Tanner Vavra recorded three hits. Felix Jorge (2-1) collected the win with six innings of work.

The Kernels tied the game, 1-1, in the third inning with back-to-back doubles. Vavra doubled down the right-field line and came home when Chad Christensen doubled down the left-field line.

Cedar Rapids took a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning when Jason Kanzler's single with the bases loaded scored both Larson and Ivory Thomas. Larson and Thomas singled before Bo Altobelli was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

The Kernels raised their advantage to 5-1 in the fifth inning with the use of only one hit. Larson's two-out double to deep left plated Christensen and Mitch Garver. Christensen was hit by a pitch and Garver drew a walk before they stole bases to get into scoring position.

The Kernels added two runs in the eighth inning to take a 7-2 lead. Larson singled and Thomas walked to start the inning. Altobelli drilled an RBI double down the left-field line to plate Larson and move Thomas to third base. With two outs, Vavra's RBI single through the left side brought Thomas home to give the Kernels a five-run advantage.

The Kernels and LumberKings finish their series Sunday at 2 p.m.

KERNELS (7): Kanzler, cf, 5 0 1 2, Vavra, 2b, 5 1 3 1, Christensen, 1b, 4 1 1 1, Garver, dh, 4 1 2 0, Haar, 3b, 5 0 0 0, Larson, rf, 5 2 4 2, Thomas, lf, 4 2 1 0, Altobelli, c, 3 0 1 1, Vielma, ss, 4 0 0 0. Totals 39 7 13 7.

CLINTON (6): Miller, cf, 5 1 1 1, Simpson, dh, 5 1 2 1, Reinheimer, ss, 5 1 1 0, Wilson, rf, 4 0 0 0, O'Neill, lf, 4 2 2 1, DeCarlo, 3b, 3 0 1 0, Seager, 1b, 3 0 1 2, Kaupplia, pr/2b, 0 0 0 0, Carmichael, c, 3 0 0 0,Shank, 2b/1b, 3 1 2 1. Totals 35 6 10 6.

Kernels    001 220 020 - 7 13 1
Clinton    010 010 040 - 6 10 0

Jorge, Montanez (7), Boyd (8) and Altobelli. Huijer, Munoz (5), Pagan (8) and Carmichael. W - Jorge (2-1). S - Boyd (3). L - Huijer (0-1). 2B - Vavra (5), Christensen (2), Larson 2 (9), Altobelli (2). 3B - Miller (3). HR - O'Neill. SB - Vavra (1), Christensen 2 (5), Garver (2). E -Christensen (1). T - 2:44. A - 552.