Quad Cities beats Kernels in 10, 5-3

CEDAR RAPIDS - We're tied.

Not that it matters too much right now. There's still a month to go in the regular season and these teams have already wrapped up Midwest League playoff berths.

That's the big picture. But the Cedar Rapids Kernels were caught Monday afternoon by Quad Cities when Frederick Parejo's two-run home run in the 10th inning gave the River Bandits a 5-3 win and three-game sweep of their series at Memorial Stadium.

The Kernels and QC have identical 63-40 overall records. While the first-half Western Division champ (Cedar Rapids) has home-field advantage in the first round of the MWL playoffs in September, the second round is determined by overall record.

There's your significance of these last three games.

"That's something that we're shooting for," said Quad Cities Manager Johnny Rodriguez, whose son, Sean, played for the Kernels  in 2004 and 2005. "But I've told them not to put pressure on themselves about winning. It's all about execution. It's not about winning, it's execution and giving yourself a chance to win."

"They got the hits (this series)," said Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello. "That's what's separated us all year, hitting with guys in scoring position. Right now, we're not doing that."

It's a four-game losing streak overall for the Kernels (20-15 second half), tied for the longest of the season. They hit the road again for four games at Kane County beginning Tuesday night.

Cedar Rapids has taken a hit from a steady stream of player movement the past couple of weeks, which has hurt. The entire starting pitching rotation, for instance, is different than what it was the beginning of the season.

Monday's starter, Tyler Kehrer, has been part of a piggyback system with Tyler Skaggs all season, but is full-time starter now. He was taken off the hook for a loss when Casey Haerther hit a long game-tying home run to dead center leading off the bottom of the ninth.

Parejo lifted a hanging breaking ball from reliever Johnny Hellweg (0-3) over the short porch in left to win it.

"Clutch hitting," said Rodriguez, whose team is 23-11 in the second half. "All year, even the guys that we've lost (to promotion). We don't awe anybody with our averages, but we find a way to grind at-bats and get clutch hits. Clutch pitching, clutch plays. The Lord has been very nice to us. He's smiled on us all year long."

"They got the hits (this series)," said Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello. "That's what's separated us all year, hitting with guys in scoring position. Right now, we're not doing that."