Cubs Blank Kernels 6-0

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Kernels posted eight hits Tuesday night but could not get on the board against the South Bend pitching staff, which combined to blank Cedar Rapids 6-0 in the series opener.

Kotlen Smith got the start for Cedar Rapids Tuesday and was really sharp across four innings of work. In his fifth high-A start, Smith allowed one run on two hits while matching a high-A best with five strikeouts.

The Cubs scored their lone run against Smith in the bottom of the fourth. To begin the inning, Jose Escobar smashed a home run to right-center field to put South Bend in front 1-0.

That was all the support South Bend starter Jostin Florentino needed. Florentino worked around five hits and did not allow a run across five innings of work with four strikeouts.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Cubs doubled their lead. Angel Cepeda walked to begin the inning. After he stole second, he stole third, and on the play, the ball went into left field, allowing him to score to push the lead to 2-0.

South Bend blew it open in the seventh. A walk to begin the inning put a runner on for Michael Hallquist, who roped a two-run home run to make it 4-0. Two batters later, Kade Snell tripled, and behind him, Josiah Haertshorn’s two-run shot brought the advantage to 6-0.

Trailing 6-0, Christian Beccera came on out of the Cedar Rapids bullpen and struck out two across 1.1 scoreless innings. But the Cedar Rapids offense could not crack on the scoreboard against South Bend pitching, and the Cubs hung on to shut out the Kernels 6-0.

The loss drops the Kernels to 38-63 on the season and to 7-30 in the second half of the season. The series with the Cubs continues Tuesday at 6:05. Michael Carpenter makes his high-A debut opposite Braylon Meyers.