Kernels comeback falls short against Wisconsin in the finale 

APPLETON, Wisconsin -- On Saturday, the Cedar Rapids Kernels were able to make a comeback, but came up short on Sunday in the series finale to Wisconsin, 5-4.

The Timber Rattlers jumped out to the early lead. For most of the series, the Kernels were using the home run ball to their advantage, but Wisconsin returned the favor. Joey Wiemer belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to left-center to give the Timber Rattlers a 2-0 lead. Then in the bottom of the second, Antonio Pinero added another two-run home run to make it a 4-0 lead. It was Pinero's first home run of the season.

The Kernels slowly started to mount a comeback. In the top of the fourth inning, DaShawn Keirsey put the Kernels on the board with an RBI sacrifice fly. Then Daniel Ozoria came up with an RBI single, cutting the deficit to 4-2.

Wisconsin got one of those runs back in the bottom of the fifth on Freddy Zamora's RBI double, giving Wisconsin a 5-3 lead. Zamora extended his hitting streak to nine games.

The Kernels didn't give up. They responded in the sixth inning when Jair Camargo recorded an RBI single to left, cutting the deficit to 5-3. Then in the eighth, Keirsey got his 2nd RBI of the game with a single to right, scoring Aaron Sabato and it was a 5-4 deficit.

In the top of the ninth inning, the Kernels got the first two runners on base. Edouard Julien and Michael Helman had back-to-back singles. They got into scoring position with no outs, but Wisconsin relief pitcher Evan Reifert got the next three batters out.

The Kernels fall to 63-51 overall. They'll have Monday off and will close out the regular season with a six-game road trip at Peoria, starting on Tuesday.

The Kernels will enter the final series of the season with a one-game lead for the second playoff spot in the HACL championship series, ahead of Great Lakes.