Trahan's 3-run blast not enough for Cougars

Stryker Trahan finally lit the fireworks at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark, but it wasn't enough as the Cedar Rapids Kernels (2-0) took their second straight game, 6-4 over the Kane County Cougars on Friday night in Geneva.

Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the first, Colin Bray of the Cougars (0-2) led off with a single and Steve McQuail followed with a hit. Trahan smashed the first Cougars home run of the season far over the right-field wall for a 3-2 advantage.

But the lead was short-lived as starter Jared Miller (0-1) allowed 5 runs, 4 earned, through the first 3 innings. Manager Mark Grudzielanek brought in reliever Nick Baker, who worked 4 innings and allowed 1 run.

Kernels starter John Curtiss (1-0) worked into the sixth inning before Michael Theofanopoulos stopped a Cougars threat and ptiched scoreless seventh and eighth innings. C.K. Irby struck out the side for his first save of the season.

The Cougars and Kernels wrap up the season series today at 1 p.m. when left-hander Stephen Gonsalves starts aainst the Cougars' Jefferson Mejia.