Bohorquez and Moring Shine, Kernels and Cubs Split Two Thursday Night

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Adrian Bohorquez did not allow a run across five innings of work in the completion of Wednesday night’s suspended game in a 4-1 loss before Reed Moring threw six two-run innings en route to a 4-2 game two win at South Bend Thursday night.

After blanking the Kernels in the series opener on Tuesday, the Cubs opened the scoring on Wednesday. Angel Cedepa doubled to lead off the bottom of the first inning, and after he moved to third on a groundball, he scored on a Josiah Hartshorn sacrifice fly to lift South Bend in front 1-0.

The Kernels responded in the top of the second. With one out, JP Smith II blasted his first high-A home run, a solo shot to left to tie the game 1-1.

With the score still tied 1-1 after the top of the third, rain arrived in South Bend and forced the game to be suspended Wednesday night.

When the game picked up on Thursday, it stayed tied 1-1 all the way until the eighth. Adrian Bohorquez started the resumption of the game and did not allow a run on just two hits across five innings with six strikeouts.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Cubs broke the tie. A pair of singles put two runners on for Hartshorn, who put South Bend back in front 2-1 with an RBI single. The next batter, Matt Halbach, then doubled the lead to 3-1 with an RBI base hit before Alexey Lumpuy pushed the lead to 4-1 with an RBI double.

Cedar Rapids went scoreless in the top of the ninth, and the Cubs secured the 4-2 win.

In game two, Smith put the Kernels on the board again. To lead off the top of the fourth, the newest Kernel crushed his second home run in as many games to put Cedar Rapids in front 1-0.

The Cubs tied it up in the bottom of the fifth. Lumpuy doubled to begin the frame, and after a groundout pushed him to third, he scored on a Michael Hallquist sacrifice fly to pull South Bend even 1-1.

In the top of the sixth, this time the Kernels had the response. A pair of hit-by-pitches put Jayson Bass and Jose Salas on base for Quinn McDaniel, who put Cedar Rapids ahead with an RBI single. With runners on the corners, an error on a pick-off attempt scored Salas and moved McDaniel into scoring position for Miguel Briceno, who increased the lead to 4-1 with an RBI single.

In the bottom of the inning, Kade Snell cut the deficit to 4-2 with a solo home run to left.

But the two runs were the only runs allowed by Kernels starter Reed Moring. In his first high-A start, Moring posted the first quality start for a Cedar Rapids pitcher this year, going six two-run innings, allowing just two hits while striking out six. Behind him, Cole Peschl locked down the 4-2 win by striking out the side in a scoreless seventh inning.

Cedar Rapids finishes the day 39-64 and makes the series 2-1 in favor of South Bend. The six-game set continues Friday at 6:35. Merit Jones makes his high-A debut on the mound for the Kernels opposite Alfredo Romero.