Cougars fall to Kernels

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The Cedar Rapids Kernels parlayed a pair of 4-run innings into an 8-4 victory over the Kane County Cougars on Sunday at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Cougars (28-32) took the lead in the first when Bijan Rademacher led off with an infield single and scored on a double by Dan Vogelbach.

The Kernels (38-23) grabbed the lead in the bottom of the second after Cougars starter Dillon Maples had control trouble and walked seven in the first two innings — 5 in the second. Michael Quesada cashed in 2 runs with a double that scored Adam Brett Walker and Tyler Grimes. Quesada crossed the plate after a bases-loaded walk to JD Williams and Jorge Polanco picked up an RBI.

Kernels starter Hudson Boyd surrendered a solo homer to Marco Hernandez leading off the fourth. In the fifth, Albert Almora singled and scored on Vogelbach’s homer that tied the score at 4-4.

The Cougars’ Felix Pena (0-1) relieved in the fifth and Walker cracked a leadoff double. He scored on a double by Quesada. Byron Buxton gave the Kernels some insurance with a 2-run double and scored on Williams’ single.

Steven Gruver (3-1) held the Cougars hitless through 4 scoreless relief inings, and Tyler Jones hung up a zero in the ninth.

The Cougars and Kernels wrap up their three-game series today at 12:05 p.m. Cougars right-hander Pierce Johnson (4-4) starts against lefty Mason Melotakis (5-2).