Lansing Holds Cedar Rapids to Four Hits, Snaps Kernels Winning Streak 3-2

Lansing, MI – After allowing a franchise record 24 runs on Thursday night, Lansing forfeited just two runs on four hits Friday night to take game four of the series 3-2 and snap the Cedar Rapids six-game winning streak.

After exploding for those 24 runs a night ago, it looked like the Cedar Rapids offense was going to pick up right where it left off. With one out and one on in the top of the first inning, Kala’i Rosario smashed his second home run in as many games to put the Kernels ahead off the jump 2-0.

With Marco Raya on the mound, that was the score until the bottom of the third. After Raya got his first out of the inning, he extended his scoreless streak to 15 frames before Euribiel Angeles blasted his second home run of the series to cut the Kernels' lead in half at 2-1.

After three frames, Raya was lifted from the game, and Alejandro Hidalgo entered out of the bullpen. After a four-pitch walk to the first batter he faced, Daniel Susac roped a ball over the left field wall to give the Lugnuts the lead at 3-2.

Hidalgo did settle in on the mound and retired the next 12 batters he faced after the home run, but with the Kernels going scoreless the rest of the way, the right-hander picked up his second loss of the season.

The best chance the Kernels had to get on the board came in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Tanner Schobel singled and stole second base, then Emmanuel Rodriguez walked and Rosario singled to load the bases for Ben Ross. But on a pitch in the dirt, Schobel was tagged out trying to score from third, and the Lansing lead stayed intact.

After that play, Lansing pitching retired 11 straight Kernels hitters until Ernie Yake’s single with two outs in the top of the ninth. But Yake was stranded on first after Tyler Baum struck out Andrew Cossetti to end the game.

The loss for the Kernels (28-21) is the first in the set against Lansing (22-27) after taking the first three games of the series, and it snaps the team’s season-best six-game winning streak. Cedar Rapids tries to get back in the win column tomorrow night back at Jackson Field at 6:05 as Christian MacLeod makes his second high-A start opposite Jack Perkins.