Kernels eventually stop Cougars in season opener

The Kane County Cougars are celebrating their silver anniversary this season as a Class A minor-league organization in the Midwest League in Geneva.

But Cedar Rapids, after a 70-minute rain delay to the teams' Western Division season opener Thursday evening, had three different pitchers limit the Cougars to 4 hits - all doubles - in its 7-2 victory at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

"We didn't put the ball in play like we should have," said Mark Grudzielanek, the 15-year major league veteran who is piloting the Arizona Diamondbacks' affiliate as a first-year coach with the Cougars. "Quality at-bats weren't there."

The game began as a classic pitchers' duel between the Cougars' Brent Jones and his counterpart from the Kernels, southpaw Mat Batts.

The two allowed a combined 3 hits through the first three innings, albeit with entirely different approaches.

"I wasn't locating my fastball very well, but I was getting my off-speed over," Jones said.

Batts retired 11 Kane County batters in succession after a Colin Bray hustle double with one out in the Cougars' first.

"I was getting ahead with fastballs, working in and out," Batts said. "I wasn't surprised (by the early duel, despite very favorable hitting conditions). This early in the season, the batter is usually behind the pitcher. It was nice trading zeroes with (Jones)."

"Both of them were getting it done, making some quality pitches," Grudzielanek said.

But Jones plunked Cedar Rapids' Max Murphy with a pitch with one out in the sixth.

"It slipped out of my hand," Jones said.

The Kernels (1-0) proceeded to manufacture 3 runs with all the usual tools: stolen bases, a pair of infield singles and a sacrifice fly.

"Walks tend to come back to haunt," Jones said. "Hit-batsmen are no different."

Batts returned the favor to the Cougars (0-1) in their half of the sixth; Bray had his second extra-base hit of the game to score Chuck Taylor, aboard via Batts' errant pitch.

But the Kernels restored their 3-run cushion in the next half inning as Zack Granite strolled home on Jency Solis' balk after tripling moments earlier.

The Kernels ultimately trebled the Cougars' hit total with 12 in all.

"The (Kernels') hits came pretty much after the game was solidified," said Grudzielanek.

Cedar Rapids' 3-run ninth made it one long weather-delay night for the Cougars.

Marty Herum and Stryker Trahan were the only other Cougars to get hits. The latter scored on an infield ground after doubling deep to right-center and advancing to third on a wild pitch.