Another loss for C.R. Kernels, as playoff chances close to being dead in the water

CEDAR RAPIDS — Leave it to their manager to say the most appropriate thing on this night.

'When it rains, it pours,' Jake Mauer said.

Literally and figuratively in this case for the Cedar Rapids Kernels, as thunderstorms shortened Tuesday night's game at Veterans Memorial Stadium. It was another loss, 3-2, to Burlington.

That's six in a row for a club whose Midwest League playoff chances appear to be dead in the water. Another appropriate thing to say on this night.

Cedar Rapids is perilously close to the break-even mark now in the first half at 33-31. It is three games behind Peoria for first place in the Western Division and 2 1/2 back of second-place Clinton.

Those teams would get the division's two first-half playoff spots. Cedar Rapids has five first-half games remaining, including Wednesday at noon against Burlington.

'Our guys show up, try hard and everything, and that's great. More power to them,' a clearly perturbed Mauer said. 'But if you are in a production job, you've got to start producing. If you don't produce, you don't have a job. That's the point it's getting to. Somebody has got to step up and lead us. It is just that simple.'

Mauer conducted a rare closed-door postgame clubhouse meeting. He's trying everything to get some energy going and get things turned around, considering he was ejected early the previous two games.

The Kernels were limited to just five hits in seven innings by Burlington starting pitcher Jaime Barria (5-5) and reliever Tyler Watson. The game was called with two outs in the top of the eighth.

'The guys have got to get out of what they did before because it's not going to keep working,' Mauer said. 'It works until a team makes an adjustment. If you don't make a (re-)adjustment, you're going to disappear. It sounds bad, but that's what baseball is. If you beat guys up bad, they're not going to just keep laying fastballs in there. They're going to pitch you differently. They're going to slow it down, they're going to do things. Some of the guys in there (in the clubhouse), you don't even have to throw a strike to them. They know that, that's why they don't throw strikes. They don't have to.

'Somebody has got to step up and lead us and say 'That's enough.' I think we hit maybe three balls hard tonight off a guy we destroyed down there (earlier in the season).'

Starting pitcher Fernando Romero (4-1) has been just shy of amazing since coming to town from extended spring training a month ago, but even he couldn't stop the losing streak. The fireballing right-hander suffered his first loss in five starts, giving up eight hits in five innings.

Center fielder LaMonte Wade did not play Tuesday as he continues to battle leg issues. The Kernels' best hitter this first half, his absence is noticeable.

When it rains, it pours.

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