Kernels' Seventh-Inning Rally Not Enough in 6-5 Loss at Beloit

Beloit, WI - Cedar Rapids eased a four-run deficit with a five-run seventh inning, but two Sky Carp runs in the bottom of the eighth inning proved to be the difference in the Beloit 6-5 win over Cedar Rapids Friday night.

After the Sky Carp finished the first half on an eight-game losing streak, they got the second half of the season going with a bang. In the bottom of the first inning, a pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Garret Forrester, who put Beloit on the board with an RBI single. Behind him, the next batter, Michael Snyder, collected a sacrifice fly to double the lead to 2-0.

In the second, Beloit added on. A walk and a fielder’s choice put a runner on for Wilfredo Lara, who belted his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left to up the Sky Carp lead to 4-0.

That stayed the score until the top of the seventh. After a shaky start, Tanner Hall settled in and did not allow a run across his final 2.2 innings. After him, Jacob Kisting entered and did not allow a run or a hit with two strikeouts in 2.1 innings of relief while pitching in his home state for the first time as a professional.

In the top of the seventh, the Kernels rallied to take the lead. To begin the inning, a misplayed pop-up on the infield gave Justin Connell a one-out single. Then, after Kyle Hess took a walk, Maddux Houghton ripped a double in the left field corner, scoring both to make it 4-2. After Luke Napleton worked a walk, an error plated a run and put two in scoring position for Danny De Andrade, who singled home a pair to lift Cedar Rapids on top 5-4.

But the lead was short-lived. In the bottom of the eighth, a pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases before another walk pushed across a run to tie the game 5-5. Then, with the bases still loaded, a balk plated another run to put Beloit back on top 6-5, the score that would be the final.

With the loss, the Kernels start the second half of the season 0-1 and fall to 40-27 overall. Game five in the series in Beloit is set for Saturday at 6:35. Jose Olivares gets the start for Cedar Rapids opposite Luke Lashutka.