Wisconsin beats Kernels on “staff day,” 5-3

CEDAR RAPIDS - They are called 'staff days,” and that's how the Cedar Rapids Kernels are going about their pitching business right now.

Five guys are bonafide starters: Clark Beeker, Domenick Carlini, Eduardo Del Rosario and newcomers Griffin Jax and Anthony Marzi. But the parent Minnesota Twins prefer to have six-man rotations in order to preserve innings, and, right now, the Kernels don't have a tried and true sixth starter.

So when that spot comes up, it's all about the bullpen.

'We've got eight guys out there, so I think we can get through doing it this way,” pitching coach J.P. Martinez said Wednesday night, after C.R.'s 5-3 loss to Wisconsin at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Colton Davis and Max Cordy have gotten prior spot starts on 'staff day,” and it was Evan Sanders' turn for one Tuesday. He failed to get out of the second inning, however, giving up all five Wisconsin runs.

Thankfully, Logan Lombana and Patrick McGuff were golden following him, combining for 6 2/3 one-hit, shutout innings to give their team a chance at a comeback. Martinez said Sanders got the start because he has had prior experience in that department, though the choice to go with him was much simpler than about that.

'It's whoever has had the most rest. That's it,” Martinez said. 'Evan had the most rest, then McGuff and Lombana had the second-most rest, so they got the chance.”

'Myself and the other relievers, we have to be ready to go, just in case something happens with the guy that's starting,” said Lombana, who retired all 11 hitters he faced. 'We've got to be prepared to back him up and be prepared to throw quite a few innings. I felt like myself and Pat kind of did that tonight. We kept the game where it was at.”

The Kernels (45-39, 6-8 second half) had plenty of chances to score runs but were done in by an 0-for-10 performance with runners in scoring position. Christian Cavaness had three of C.R.'s seven hits.

The teams play again Thursday night at 6:35.

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