Kernels head to Beloit to begin final week of first half

Cedar Rapids Kernels (29-34) @ Beloit Snappers (33-30)

The Snappers have won 5 in a row and 7 out of their last 10 games. Beloit, along with Peoria and Wisconsin, is two games back of Quad Cities for the wild card spot.

The Kernels have lost 2 in a row, and 8 of their last 10 games.

The Kernels are 3-2 against Beloit this season. The two teams split a doubleheader on April 17 in Beloit after the first two games of the series were snowed/rained out. Cedar Rapids took two of three from the Snappers in early May at Perfect Game Field.

Tuesday --- Doubleheader beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Game One: CR: RHP Brian Diemer (5-4, 3.64) vs. BEL: RHP Manuel Soliman (2-3, 4.70)

This is Diemer's 12th start and 13th appearance. In 59.1 innings this season, Diemer has allowed 70 hits while striking out 33 and walking 24.

Diemer's last start was Wednesday vs. Great Lakes. He picked up a no decision and went five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits. He struck out two and walked two.

He is 1-0 in two appearances against the Beloit Snappers. In Diemer's only relief appearance of the year he faced the Snappers in game two at Beloit on April 17. He went one inning and allowed one run on no hits while striking out none and walking one. Diemer started against Beloit at Perfect Game Field on May 7. He was the winning pitching, going seven innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits while striking out three and walking one.

Soliman is making his 12th start and 13th appearance of the season. In 51.2 innings, he has allowed 55 hits while striking out 65 and walking 26.

His last start was Wednesday vs. Ft. Wayne. He picked up a no decision in 4.1 innings of work. He allowed five runs on 10 hits while striking out two and walking one.

Soliman has not faced the Kernels this season.

Game Two: CR: RHP Justin La Tempa (2-3, 3.76) vs. BEL: LHP Ryan O'Rourke (0-1, 1.91)

This is La Tempa's 9th start and 13th appearance. In 52.2 innings, La Tempa has allowed 56 hits while striking out 42 and walking 19.

La Tempa's last start was Tuesday vs. Great Lakes. He went five innings in a no decision while allowing two runs on four hits. He struck out one and walked one.

La Tempa has not faced Beloit this season.

O'Rourke is making his 4th start and 20th appearance of the season. In 33 innings, he has allowed 29 hits while striking out 24 and walking 10.

His last appearance was a start against Ft. Wayne on Thursday. He went 3.2 innings in a no decision and allowed no runs on one hit. He struck out four and walked none.

He threw 1.2 innings out of the bullpen against the Kernels in game one on April 17 and allowed one run on one hit.

Wednesday: CR: LHP Max Russell (4-5, 3.21) vs. BEL: RHP B.J. Hermsen (4-6, 4.02)

Russell is one of three Kernels representing the Kernels at next week's All Star Game. He is making his 14th start of the season. He has thrown 75.2 innings and allowed 62 hits while striking out 52 and walking 33. He has also allowed 11 home runs.

Russell's last start was Thursday vs. Great Lakes. He took the loss while allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits over 5.1 innings. He struck out two and walked four.

Russell is 1-1 in two starts against Beloit this season. He started game two of the doubleheader on April 17 and took the loss. He went 2.1 innings and allowed six runs (four earned) on eight hits. He struck out one and walked two. Russell picked up the win against the Snappers at home on May 8. He allowed one run and four hits over seven innings. He struck out five and walked two.

Hermsen is making his 12th start and 13th appearance of the season. In 65 innings, he has allowed 81 hits while striking out 44 and walking 19.

His last appearance was out of the bullpen on Wednesday against Ft. Wayne. He allowed two runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings of work. He struck out three and walked two.

He started against the Kernels at Perfect Game Field on May 2. He took the loss, going six innings. He allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits while striking out five and walking one.

Hermsen is 2-0 at home with all six losses coming away from Pohlman Field this year.

Thursday: CR: RHP Heath Nichols (3-5, 5.01) vs. BEL: Adrian Salcedo (5-3, 3.10)

Nichols is making his 13th start of the season. In 59.1 innings, he has allowed 64 hits while striking out 41 and walking 34.

His last start was Friday vs. Lansing. He picked up the win, going five innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits. He struck out five and walked five.

Nichols has no record against Beloit in two starts against the Snappers. He went 4.2 innings in game one on April 17, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out three and walking five. On May 9, he went six innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits. He struck out five and walked none.

Salcedo is one of three Snappers representing the Snappers in the All Star Game. He is making his 13th start of the season. In 72.2 innings, he has allowed 68 hits while striking out 51 and walking 18.

His last start was Friday vs. Lake County. He went eight innings in a no decision effort. He allowed two runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking two.

Salcedo is 0-1 in two starts against the Kernels. He started game one of the doubleheader on April 17 and took the loss. He went 4.2 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits while striking out two and walking four. He started at Perfect Game Field on May 9 and picked up a no decision while going 6.1 innings. He allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits. He struck out four and walked one.