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)