Kernels beat Great Lakes in 9th

They couldn't win a close game. Now they can't lose one.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels continued to find a way Tuesday night at Memorial Stadium. This way was a dropped throw at the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning that gave them a 3-2 win over Great Lakes before 1,406 fans.

The Kernels (20-19) eked back on the positive side of .500 with their sixth win in seven games. Four of those six have been by a single run, a close game syndrome that has been there all season thus far for the Men of Corn.

Cedar Rapids has played 15 one-run games and 12 more decided by two runs. Their once awful record in one-runners has climbed back to a respectable 7-8.

"We're starting to turn that table," said Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello. "You play enough of them, you're bound to get a few of them, I guess."

This one was gift wrapped. Gabe Jacobo led off the Kernels' ninth by walking on four pitches against relief pitcher Robert Boothe (0-1). He was bunted to second and went to third on Adam Younger's infield single up the middle.

After an intentional walk to Ryan Groth loaded the bases, Dwayne Bailey hit a hopper directly to Great Lakes first baseman Tony Delmonico. He looked toward first, noticed he was too far away to try for a double-play and threw home, with catcher Matt Wallach flat-out dropping the chest-high toss, allowing pinch runner Darwin Perez to score the winning run.

Now that's a Midwest League rally, as they say: two walks, an infield hit and an error.

"I think once we get that ball rolling, it's a confidence thing," said Younger, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI. "We've been doing a good job of playing small ball, been bunting pretty good, doing all the little things good. So I think that really helps us in those one-run games.

"It didn't look good there for awhile for us. We had a losing streak there. It's good to get it back over .500."

Cedar Rapids got good starting pitching again from Manuel Flores, who went eight strong innings. He allowed just six hits, three of those bunched in a two-run sixth for Great Lakes (21-18). Flores earned run average actually rose slightly to 2.05, which is top 10 in the Midwest League.

Trailing 2-1, the Kernels tied it in the bottom of the sixth. Beau Brooks doubled to right field with one out and alertly went to third when a throw from strong-armed right fielder Alfredo Silverio pulled third baseman Anthony Hatch too far away from the bag on the outfield side.

Brooks scored on an ensuing sacrifice fly. Again, an example of finding a way.

"Even though we've been in so many (close games), I've never felt like 'Aw, it's close. We're going to end up losing.' I've always believed we were going to win them," Mosiello said. "It only really becomes a mindset when you blow games and keep blowing them. I've always looked at it like we're doing a pretty good job of playing pretty good baseball. So it's not like we play great when we win and play horrible when we lose. It's just sort of the same club that has to find a way."

Mike Kohn moved to 3-0 with the win in relief. The teams play again Thursday at noon.