CEDAR RAPIDS, IA. – Corner outfielders Rafael Valera and J.J. Fernandez highlighted a 4-1 Cedar Rapids Kernels victory over the South Bend Cubs Friday at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Cedar Rapids improves to 13-9 by winning the opener of a three-game series against South Bend, which is now 12-9.

The Kernels grabbed an early 1-0 lead during the first inning. Valera doubled and advanced to third base on a LaMonte Wade single. A wild pitch to Fernandez allowed Valera to score Cedar Rapids’ first run.

South Bend quickly answered in the top of the second. Eddy Julio Martinez tried to score the tying run during a Daniel Spingola single, but Valera threw out Martinez from left field. Spingola reached second base on Valera’s throw to the plate, and he would score when Matt Rose delivered an RBI single, evening the score at 1-1.

Valera also gunned down Martinez at third base in the top of the fourth. That gave Valera his second outfield assist, his first two assists since the 2013 season with the Dominican Summer League Twins.

Cedar Rapids regained the lead, 2-1, in the fourth inning. Following singles by Zander Wiel and Fernandez and an A.J. Murray fly out, Wiel stole third base on a double steal attempt that ultimately left Fernandez scrambling back safely to first base. That allowed Bryant Hayman to produce a sacrifice fly and bring in Wiel.

Insurance runs later pushed the advantage to 4-1 Cedar Rapids. Wade led off the sixth inning with a single and scored from first base on an RBI double from Fernandez, who tied for a game-high two hits after a single and double Friday evening. In the bottom of the eighth, Murray blooped a double down the right-field line that allowed Wiel to come home.

Sam Clay held the Cubs to one run over 5.2 innings pitched before the bullpen secured the Kernels’ win. Kuo Hua Lo stranded a pair of inherited baserunners in the sixth and induced an inning-ending double play during the seventh. Lo was followed by two shutout innings from C.K. Irby to finish the game. Cedar Rapids’ bullpen is now on a scoreless streak of 19.1 innings.

Clay claimed the victory and boosted his record to 2-0 while Lo was credited with his second hold and Irby recorded his first save of the season. South Bend’s Kyle Twomey allowed two runs over his five innings pitched and fell to 0-2 after the loss.

This three-game series continues Saturday at 4:05 p.m. as Kernels right-hander Dereck Rodriguez (0-3, 5.71 ERA) faces Cubs right-hander Adbert Alzolay (1-0, 3.12 ERA).