Adalberto Mejia pitches well in a rehab start, but it's hard to win when you don't score. Four errors don't help, either. The Kernels lose a big lead.
MONTGOMERY 2, CHATTANOOGA 0 IN CHATTANOOGA
It was scoreless until the seventh, when a single, two errors, and a fielder's choice put the Biscuits ahead 1-0. In the eighth, Joe McCarthy doubled and scored on another error to make it 2-0. The Lookouts best chance came in the sixth, when three consecutive walks loaded the bases with one out. A strikeout and a ground out ended that threat. Chattanooga also put men on first and second with two out in the eighth, but were again turned aside. The Lookouts made four errors, which does not exactly qualify as championship baseball.
Adalberto Mejia struck out five in five shutout innings, giving up one hit and no walks. Nick Anderson pitched a perfect inning. T. J. White was 2-for-4. The best-of-five series is tied 2-2. The two teams will play today for the Southern League Co-championship.
QUAD CITIES 5, CEDAR RAPIDS 4 IN QUAD CITIES (10 INNINGS)
Ben Rortvedt had a two-run single in a four-run second that put the Kernels ahead 4-0. The lead held up until the seventh, when the River Bandits put together a four-run inning of their own. A walk, four consecutive two-out singles, and an error scored the runs. Cedar Rapids loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, but a pair of strikeouts ended the inning. In the tenth, a walk, a bunt, and an intentional walk put men on first and second with one out for Quad Cities, and Josh Rojas singled home the winning (or losing) run.
Tyler Watson struck out seven in 6.2 innings but gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk. Max Cordy struck out two in 1.1 scoreless innings. Lewin Diaz was 2-for-5 with a double. The Kernels trail the best-of-three series 1-0 and need a win today to keep their season alive.
TODAY'S TILTS
4:05 Quad Cities (Ronel Blanco, 6-4, 3.30) at Cedar Rapids (Charlie Barnes, 2-1, 3.86)
5:15 Montgomery (Benton Moss, 4-5, 3.58) at Chattanooga (Dietrich Enns, no record)
PLAYOFF PICTURE
Chattanooga is tied with Montgomery 2-2 in the best-of-five series. The final game will be played today. The winner of this series will be declared co-champion with Pensacola, which won the other semi-final series. The championship series was cancelled due to Hurricane Irma.
Cedar Rapids trails Quad Cities 1-0 in the best-of-three series. The Kernels need a win today to keep the series alive.
I will be leaving town after church today and won't be back until late Monday night. Unless something unexpected happens, we'll catch things up Tuesday morning. By that time, both of the current series should be over. Cedar Rapids may have another series to play, or they may not.