Cedar Rapids, Iowa– A series that was dominated by pitching in the first two games saw an abrupt change Sunday afternoon as the Lansing Lugnuts dropped a 9-5 decision to the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The loss gives secures the first series defeat for the Lugnuts this season.

Things looked promising for the Lugnuts in the first inning when C.J. Ebarb doubled home Darin Mastroianni to make it a 1-0 game. It would be the only lead for Lansing in the affair.

Cedar Rapids grabbed the lead in the bottom half of the first by taking advantage of an erratic Luis Perez, who made the start for Lansing. Perez started the game by hitting the Kernels' Jeremy Moore and walking Clay Fuller. After the two runners executed a double steal, Andrew Romine delivered an RBI groudout to knot the game at 1-1. Jay Brossman's single plated Fuller to push the Kernels ahead 2-1.

The Kernels added three more runs in the third inning with benefit of just a single hit. Perez walked two batters and hit another to load the bases before issuing a walk to Chris Rosenbaum that made the score 3-1. Jerry Gonzalez then drove in two more runs for the Kernels with a single to right field to push the advantage to 5-1.

Cedar Rapids scored three more times in the fourth inning off of reliever Randy Boone. Efren Navarro highlighted the frame with an RBI double down the left field line.

Lansing would musted a rally in the sixth inning by scoring two runs, but left the bases loaded when Kevin Ahrens struck out to end the threat. The Lugnuts left seven batters in scoring position during the contest.

Trevor Reckling (1-0) garnered the win for the Kernels by throwing five innings and allowing one run on two hits.

Perez (0-1) took the loss for the Lugnuts after surrendering five runs over three innings. He also walked five batters in the outing and hit two others.

Lansing (7-3) will continue the road trip on Monday night at Community Field in Burlington, Iowa when they take on the Burlington Bees. Trystan Magnuson (0-1, 3.38) will take the hill for the Lugnuts. He will be opposed by Burlington's Danny Gutierrez (0-0, 0.00).