Kernels fall back into 1st-place tie with 8-2 loss to Quad Cities

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Cedar Rapids Kernels should have felt lucky Tuesday night.

Their manager was close to airing out the clubhouse after a listless 8-2 loss to Quad Cities at Veterans Memorial Stadium. This close.

Tommy Watkins wanted to go off on his team but decided to hold off instead. At least for now.

'No energy today,' Watkins said. 'We've been in first place, but we don't play like it. We don't play like it. We just go through the motions at times.'

Needless to say, the skipper felt this was one of those times. The Kernels (29-23) fell percentage points behind Kane County for first place in the Midwest League's Western Division, with Quad Cities (26-24) just two games back now.

The teams play again Wednesday night at 6:35.

Cedar Rapids didn't even get its first baserunner until the seventh inning. Ariel Montesino doubled over the center fielder's head leading off, with Daz Cameron appearing to lose the ball temporarily in the dusk.

Jermaine Palacios followed with a long two-run home run to left. Carlos Sanabria (1-2) came in with an earned run average over 7.00 in two prior appearances this season but was Cy Young here.

He struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings.

'I am not taking anything away from him. He pitched a hell of a game,' Watkins said. 'But our approaches early sucked. Our first nine batters, six struck out, all on offspeed pitches. That's not fighting. That's just going up there and throwing at-bats away.'

There also was criticism for Kernels starting pitcher Eduardo Del Rosario (4-3). He struggled all night, allowing 10 hits, four walks and six runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Quad Cities finished with 16 hits, at least one from every starter.

'He didn't give us a chance,' Watkins said of his pitcher. 'Honestly it looked like he didn't want to be out there. When stuff goes like that for him, he starts to look like that. His body language is bad, walking off the mound with his head down, not backing up bases and stuff like that. He doesn't want to be out there.

'We're going to being backing up some bases tomorrow (in pregame workouts). All of them. They can thank him for that, too.'

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