Kernels lose to Wisconsin, 8-3, but Michael Theofanopoulos continues to throw well

CEDAR RAPIDS - One of his streaks remains alive, while another has gone by the wayside.

Not because of anything Michael Theofanopoulos did Friday night. A dropped popup to the catcher allowed a run to score against him in the eighth inning of the Cedar Rapids Kernels' 8-3 loss to Wisconsin at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

That brought an end to the left-hander's scoreless steak, which had reached an impressive 19 1/3 innings. It wasn't an earned run, though, which means Theofanopoulos hasn't given up any of those in 20 2/3 innings over 11 appearances.

'It's fastball command,” Manager Jake Mauer said.

'I think for the most part it's just about trusting my stuff,” Theofanopoulos said. 'Going out there with a plan. Knowing when to use my pitches at the right time. The big thing is attacking the hitters and staying away from the walks.”

Theofanopoulos, let's call him 'Theo” from here on, pitched last season for the Kernels, winning five games, saving one and compiling a decent earned run average (3.82). The numbers this season are 1-0, one save and a 1.61 ERA.

The peripherals are very good, too: 11 hits allowed and 31 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings. He has been outstanding out of the bullpen.

'I think you always learn when you have more experience,” Theo said. 'A big thing for me is just watching guys that are really successful and learning from them. Seeing what they do well. I don't want to say mimic them is the right word, but take how their success works for them and do it within yourself with your own arsenal.”

A six-run fourth inning for Wisconsin doomed Cedar Rapids (27-20), continuing the struggles of starting pitcher Dereck Rodriguez. He gave up five hits and seven runs in 3 2/3 innings, taking the loss to drop to 1-6 with a 6.92 ERA.

Rodriguez, son of former big-league catching legend Ivan, has shown flashes but hasn't been able to sustain them.

'Everything is up. It's just that plain and simple,” Mauer said. 'When your stuff is flat and it's up above the belt, you're not going to get anybody out. He's got a good breaking ball, but he just can't get to it. Everything is up, up, up.”

LaMonte Wade walked with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to extend his streak of reaching base via hit or walk to 27 games. Luis Arraez, Daniel Kihle and Sean Miller had two hits apiece for the Kernels, who play the second game of this four-game series Saturday night at 6:35.

Nelson Molina drove in C.R.'s first run with an RBI double in the sixth inning but was removed from the game at inning's end because he stood at second base after the hit and pointed skyward, failing to notice a throw to home plate had eluded the catcher and gone to the backstop.

'You can praise Jesus after the play's done,” said Mauer. 'He got a little excited. That's a teaching moment, as we say.”

Before the game, the Kernels and parent Minnesota Twins announced catcher Brian Olson has been promoted to high-Class A Fort Myers. He was hitting .296 in eight games.

Replacing him on the active roster is catcher Kevin Garcia, who comes down to the Midwest League from Fort Myers. He was hitting .250 in 16 games for the Miracle.

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