A great five innings by John Curtiss wasn't enough, as Cedar Rapids is eliminated. Fort Myers was rained out.
FORT MYERS AT DAYTONA
Rained out.
KANE COUNTY 4, CEDAR RAPIDS 2 IN KANE COUNTY
Batting star: Chad Christensen was 1-for-4 with a two-run homer.
Pitching star: John Curtiss pitched five shutout innings, giving up one hit and three walks with two strikeouts.
Opposition stars: Paul Blackburn struck out seven in five shutout innings, allowing one hit and no walks. Carlos Penalver was 3-for-4 with a two-run homer. Chesny Young was 1-for-3 with a walk, scoring once and driving in one.
The game: The starting pitchers dominated, each giving up only one hit in five innings. In the sixth, however, it became a battle of the bullpens, and the home runs started coming. Jacob Rogers homered in the sixth to give Kane County a 1-0 lead. Christensen hit a two-run homer in the seventh to put Cedar Rapids up 2-1. In the bottom of the seventh, Penalver hit a two-run homer to put the Cougars back in the lead at 3-2. Kane County added a run in the eighth when Jeffrey Baez singled, stole second and third, and scored on a Young single. The Kernels did not get a hit after the seventh.
Of note: Tanner English was 0-for-4. Jonatan Hinojosa was 1-for-4 with a run. Max Murphy was 1-for-4 with a double. Alex Swim was 0-for-3.
Playoff update: Cedar Rapids loses the series to Kane County, two games to none. In the other series, Lake County defeated Fort Wayne 5-4 to win that series two games to none. Lake County will take on Kane County in the Midwest League finals. That series will being Wednesday.
TODAY'S TILT
6:05 Fort Myers (D. J. Baxendale, 4-4, 6.02) at Daytona (Rob Zastrynzny, 4-6, 4.66)