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Beloit knocks off Cedar Rapids Kernels in Game 1 of Midwest League playoffs
Kernels fail to come up with clutch hits early, get battered late in 7-1 loss
Sep. 9, 2025 9:05 pm, Updated: Sep. 10, 2025 11:07 am
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CEDAR RAPIDS - You knew it was over after about three innings.
Kind of nutsy to say considering the Cedar Rapids Kernels and Beloit Sky Carp were scoreless at that time. Game 1 of the Midwest League Western Division championship playoff series seemed completely up for grabs.
But dig deeper, into the specifics.
The Kernels had the bases loaded with one out in the top of the first inning but grounded into a double play. The first two hitters reached in the top of third but there was another double play and no runs.
Beloit pitcher Aiden May, called up from low-A to make the start, gave up three hits and six walks in 3 2/3 innings. Yet no runs.
Bottom line is you blow that many opportunities, you’re going to lose. Which Cedar Rapids did, 7-1, Tuesday night at ABC Supply Stadium.
The Kernels are in a do-or-die situation going into Thursday night’s Game 2 at Veterans Memorial Stadium. A deciding Game 3 would be Friday night in C.R.
That won’t be needed if the Kernels can’t play better than this, especially when it comes to clutch hitting.
“We had some early scoring chances and had some hard-hit balls that didn’t fell throughout the night,” said Kernels Manager Brian Meyer.
Wilfredo Lara began the scoring with an opposite-field, solo home run for Beloit in the bottom of the fourth inning against Kernels starting pitcher Jose Olivares. Lara, who hit .186 in 72 regular-season games with three homers, went 3-for-4.
Cedar Rapids tied it in the fifth when Kyle DeBarge walked leading off, stole second with one out and scored on Danny DeAndrade’s two-out single through the left side. But the Sky Carp went right back ahead in the bottom of the inning on three walks and a fielding error with two outs on DeBarge.
Things completely got away in the sixth, when Beloit scored four runs despite its first two hitters being retired. Cam Cannarella had a bases-loaded walk, Aiva Arquette followed with a two-run single (a hit Cedar Rapids was missing all night) and Ian Lewis a RBI single.
Another Sky Carp scored in the seventh on another Cannarella bases-loaded walk with two outs. There were 17 combined walks in the game.
Comments: (319)-398-8258, jeff.johnson@thegazette.com
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