Kernels drop 2nd straight at home, 11-2

CEDAR RAPIDS - It's still in their control. That's the good thing.

But this chase for first place is getting a little interesting for the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Amazing what actual back-to-back losses at home will do.

Mere hours after their league-record 19-game home win streak was stopped, the Kernels were blasted by Beloit, 11-2, in a Wednesday matinee before 2,772 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

“Sure ruined a gorgeous day,” said Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello.

The Kernels (41-23) clinched at least second place and a playoff berth Tuesday night. But their lead in the Midwest League's Western Division is down to two and could drop to 1.5 if second-place Quad Cities won last night.

“It's very important,” said Kernels pitcher Tyler Skaggs. “First place is all we're working for right now. Win and kind of cruise in the second half. We've been playing so well, it'd be bad to lose these next few games to end the first half.”

The first half concludes Sunday. Hard to believe, but the last time Cedar Rapids won a first-half division title was 1992 (the Cedar Rapids Reds). The Kernels' last outright division championship was in 2002.

This was just one of those outings for Skaggs (5-3). The 18-year-old lefty has been terrific but was reached for 10 hits and eight runs in four innings.

For a second consecutive game, Beloit (34-31) batted around in the second and scored six runs. Danny Rams and Anderson Hidalgo had home runs for the Snappers, a Minnesota Twins affiliate.

The Kernels were outhit, 14-6.

“All of my pitches were up,” Skaggs said.

“We've been very spoiled from a pitching standpoint this season,” Mosiello said. We don't have many days like this.”