Sky Carp Blank Kernels 6-0 in Rain-Shortened Series Opener

BELOIT, Wis - Sky Carp starter Liomar Martinez allowed just one hit across six scoreless innings Tuesday night, leading Beloit past Cedar Rapids 6-0 in a six-inning rain-shortened series opener.

After a scoreless first inning to begin the series at ABC Supply Stadium, Beloit opened the scoring in the bottom of the second. To start the inning, back-to-back singles from Starlyn Caba and Carter Johnson put two on for Jesus Hernandez, who put the Sky Carp on the board with an RBI double. With runners now on second and third, a balk doubled the lead to 2-0 before Esmil Valencia launched a two-run home run to left to up the advantage to 4-0.

That was plenty of run support for Beloit starter Liomar Martinez. The right-hander began the night with five no-hit innings and finished the night allowing just one across six scoreless frames with nine strikeouts and no walks en route to the win.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Sky Carp added to the lead. Three doubles in the inning, one by Johnson followed by RBI two-base hits from Hernandez and Wilson Weber, combined to up the Beloit edge to 6-0.

After the bottom of the sixth, rain came crashing down at ABC Supply and forced the game to come to an end with Beloit ahead 6-0.

The loss to open the series drops the Kernels to 44-69 on the season. The set in Beloit continues Wednesday at 6:05. Reed Morning takes the mound for Cedar Rapids opposite Brayan Mendoza.