Kernels clobber Cougars

After a 78-minute rain delay, the Cedar Rapids Kernels delivered their own offensive storm, clobbering the Kane County Cougars 15-2 on Saturday night at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva.

Cougars starter Tayler Scott (2-2) struggled through 4 innings, allowing 7 runs on 7 hits.

Niko Goodrum doubled to spark Cedar Rapids (35-19) in the first. A double from Jorge Polanco drove home Goodrum for the first run, and Dalton Hicks blasted a 2-run homer to cap a 3-run first.

The Kernels tacked on 3 more runs in the second. Tyler Grimes singled and scored on JD Williams’ double. Goodrum cracked an RBI single to score Jeremidas Pineda, and Williams came across on a fielder’s choice.

In the third, Adam Brett Walker walked, stole second and scored on Grimes’ single. Cedar Rapids cashed in 4 more runs against reliever Ian Dickson in the fifth, as Hicks ripped his second homer and Pineda hit a 3-run shot that made it 11-0.

Brett Lee (4-3) limited the Cougars to 7 hits over 7 innings while allowing a couple unearned runs.

The Cougars and Kernels battle today in the third of their four-game series starting at 1 p.m. Left-hander Michael Heesch (2-4) starts for the Cougars against righty Hudson Boyd (1-3).