Boshers strong as Kernels topple Beloit, 5-2

CEDAR RAPIDS - Who's going to be the starting pitcher for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in Game 1 of their Midwest League first-round playoff series in a month?

Who's going to start Game 2? Who would get the ball if there's a deciding Game 3?

Please tell Kernels pitching coach Brandon Emanuel. He's as baffled by those questions as anyone.

“Without a doubt,” Emanuel said after Cedar Rapids' 5-2 win over Beloit Monday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. “Our problem here lately has been starting pitching ... Our relief guys have really done well, though you know how that goes. Sometimes that flip-flops on you. But we've got to get those (starting) guys going a little bit. Right now, things are still up for grabs.”

Buddy Boshers threw his cap in the ring Monday with a strong five innings. The left-hander has previous starting experience, including last season with the Kernels, but had been strictly a bullpen guy this season until last week.

Injuries, promotions and trades have decimated the rotation, so Boshers (2-0) is getting a chance. He retired the first 15 Snappers until tiring in the sixth and allowing a walk and back-to-back doubles.

He threw around 70 pitches, as the Kernels (67-43) continue to try and build his endurance.

“They both have their pros and cons,” Boshers said, when asked if he feels more comfortable as a starter or reliever. “As a starter you know when you're going to throw. You have a set date. As a reliever you have to have that killer mentality, even in the first inning. Because you don't know when you're going to get the ball. You have to be prepared at all times.”

Boshers was hit hard last week at Kane County but rebounded Monday. He was a godsend for a team that has had few quality starts of late.

“We're just taking it slow. Just let me go as hard as I can for as long as I can. We're trying to get my pitch count up, perhaps get ready for the playoffs,” Boshers said.

The teams play the final game of their four-game series tonight at 6:35.

Cedar Rapids got a run in the third when Jose Jimenez doubled into the right-field corner and scored on a one-out sacrifice fly to center by Michael Wing. A two-run Matt Long triple and ensuing Wing sac fly made it a 4-0 game.

Beloit starter Tom Stuifbergen (5-1) was removed after Wing's at-bat with some sort of right calf injury. He had to be helped off the field.

Randal Grichuk homered over the short porch in left in the eighth to make it 5-2.