Cedar Rapids Kernels Manager Jake Mauer was smiling and visibly relieved after his club edged Clinton, 6-5, Friday night to end a four-game losing streak.

“We needed that, we really did,” the skipper said.

Kernels starting pitcher Lewis Thorpe (1-1) struggled in his first four starts for the Kernels since his promotion to the club three weeks ago, but the 18-year-old Australian found his groove against Clinton before 3,456 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Thorpe, who had worked just four innings in each of his previous three starts, gave the Kernels 5.1 innings of strong work.

Mauer was not short of praise for his pitcher.

“Thorpe was very good,” he said. “I think that’s more kind of what we’re going to see hopefully the rest of the year.

"Able to command his changeup, change speeds, got us into the sixth inning. I thought he trusted his stuff a little bit more tonight. Definitely much improved over what we’ve seen.”

For his part, Thorpe gave credit to Kernels pitching coach Ivan Arteaga for working through some mechanical issues with his delivery.

“I had a change in my mechanics,” the young lefty said. “Ivan helped me a lot. I just felt free out there. I felt like everything was working and it was just great.”

The Kernels, who hadn’t scored more than three runs in any game during their four-game losing streak,  built a 6-1 lead for Thorpe through five innings, then hung on for the win.

Thorpe appreciated the early support. “That gives me a little bit of leeway so I kept pounding the zone and everything worked out,” he said.

Jon Murphy’s solo home run to lead off the third inning tied the game at 1-1 and the lead was pushed to 3-1 through four innings on the strength of Jason Kanzler’s RBI triple and an RBI single by Alex Swim.

Bo Altobelli and Chad Christensen had doubles in a three-run Kernels fifth inning to complete the home team’s scoring. Christensen and Kanzler had a pair of hits. Clinton did not go away quietly, however. The LumberKings scored twice in the sixth inning and twice more in the eighth.

Thorpe claimed he wasn’t nervous as he watched the lead dwindle after leaving the mound.

“Not really. I just wanted the win,” he said. “Just get that win because we’ve been on a bit of a losing streak, but I’m glad we got that win on the board so hopefully that carries through and we have some momentum.”

Alex Muren gave up a pair of runs in two innings of relief and Todd Van Steensel worked the final 1.2 innings, striking out three batters for the save.

Mauer had praise for Thorpe’s Australian countryman, Van Steensel, as well.

“Van Steensel’s been really good on the back end. He’s been doing that. It’s just giving him that opportunity. So that was very encouraging to see,” he said.

The same two teams meet Saturday night at 6:35.