Big Innings Burn Cubs in 15-2 Loss to Kernels

The South Bend Cubs (62-40) dropped a 15-2 result to the Cedar Rapids Kernels (40-64) on Friday night at Four Winds Field. Cedar Rapids used massive sixth and ninth innings to blow out the Cubs and even the series at two wins apiece.

Click here to view Friday’s box score.

Neither team scored until the fifth inning, as both starting pitchers impressed early on. Right-hander Alfredo Romero made the start for South Bend, pitching 5.0 innings of two-run ball. Right-hander Merit Jones opposed him for the Kernels with 4.0 scoreless frames, stranding the bases loaded for his final act of the night in the bottom of the fourth.

The Kernels opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth, as a leadoff walk came around on two-out hitting from the top of the order. Center fielder Yasser Mercedes broke the scoreless tie with an RBI double to left-center. Left fielder Emmanuel Rodriguez followed with an RBI single to left, opening up a 2-0 lead for the Kernels.

The Cubs answered with their own pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, sparked by second baseman Michael Hallquist. The nine-hole man led off with a walk before stealing both second and third. On his steal of third base, Cedar Rapids pitcher Ross Dunn committed a throwing error as Hallquist took off early, allowing him to score. On the next pitch, right fielder Jose Escobar floated an RBI single into shallow right, tying the game.

Cedar Rapids broke the tie for good in the top of the sixth, scoring four runs and forcing the Cubs to throw 52 pitches. Right-hander Eli Jerzembeck got to two outs quickly with a runner on, but the third out eluded him as he issued three walks. In between the free passes, he allowed a backbreaking three-run home run to shortstop Jose Salas, who ripped a low line drive over the right-field fence. Right-hander Luis Rujano took over for Jerzembeck and hit a man before issuing a bases-loaded walk, allowing the Kernels to take a 6-2 lead.

Rujano went on to pitch 2.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts before the Kernels unloaded on right-handers Jose Romero and Ethan Bell in the ninth. Cedar Rapids walked five times and brought up 12 hitters in the nine-run inning, blowing the game open. First baseman JP Smith II and right fielder Jayson Bass capped off the inning with back-to-back home runs; Smith cranked a grand slam to center, and Bass ripped a solo shot to right.

Right-hander Michael Ross finished the game with an elite bullpen performance for Cedar Rapids, totaling 4.1 scoreless innings with one hit, one walk, and four strikeouts.

With the series tied 2-2, the Cubs and Kernels will play for the series lead at 7:05 PM on Saturday, August 8. Left-hander Pierce Coppola is scheduled to pitch for South Bend against Cedar Rapids righty Justin Mitrovich.