Going into Thursday night’s game with Wisconsin, the Cedar Rapids Kernels were a perfect 16-0 this season when they led a game after six innings.

So things were looking pretty good for the Kernels and the 2,099 fans that showed up at Veterans Memorial Stadium after Michael Quesada’s sixth-inning double drove in two runs to give the Kernels a 5-3 lead.

But the game turned sour in a hurry for the Kernels in the seventh as the Timber Rattlers sent 10 hitters to the plate and five of them scored before the inning was over. The big inning wrapped up the scoring for both teams and the Kernels fell, 8-5.

Adding injury to insult, Kernels outfielder J.D. Williams left the game with a twisted knee suffered going after Steven Holcomb’s two-run double during the long seventh inning. Kernels Manager Jake Mauer said Williams will see a doctor Friday and is expected to be out of the lineup a few days.

The Kernels already have six players on the Disabled List, three of them outfielders.

Quesada has been doing some damage to Rattler pitching through the first two games of the series. The Kernels catcher had three hits in four at-bats Thursday after going 2-for-3 in the series opener Wednesday. He drove in a pair of runs in each game.

“He’s had two pretty good nights,” said Mauer. “He’s been coming up with some pretty good at-bats.”

The Kernels jumped in front, 3-0, after two innings on RBI singles by Mitch Garver in the first inning and Engelb Vielma in the second.

Kernels starting pitcher Ryan Eades went five innings, leaving with the game tied at 3-3. Only one of the three runs he surrendered to the Rattlers was earned. He struck out four batters and walked a pair. It was the first no-decision in 10 starts for Eades.

Chris Mazza (0-1) took the loss in relief for Cedar Rapids, giving up four runs in 1.1 innings.

The Kernels will continue the series with Wisconsin Friday night at 6:35.

It’s “Star Wars Night” at the ballpark, with the Kernels wearing special jerseys that will be auctioned off during the game. In addition, the first 1,000 fans through the gate will receive a free Star Wars T-shirt.

WISCONSIN (8): Davis, cf, 3 1 1 0, Garcia, lf, 3 1 0 0, Coulter, c, 3 2 1 0, Pena, dh, 5 0 1 2, Ratterree, rf, 5 1 1 0, Brennan, 3b, 3 1 3 2, Castillo, 2b, 5 1 2 1, Neda, 1b, 5 0 0 0, Halcomb, ss, 5 1 2 2. Totals 37 8 11 7.

KERNELS (5): Walker, ss, 5 0 1 0, Williams, lf, 3 1 0 0, Licon, lf, 1 0 1 0, Christensen, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Garver, dh, 4 0 1 1, Haar, 3b, 4 1 1 0, Kanzler, cf, 2 2 1 0, Quesada, c, 4 1 3 2, Thomas, rf, 3 0 0 0, Vielma, 2b, 4 0 1 1. Totals 34 5 9 4.

Wisconsin   000 120 500 - 8 11 1
Kernels       120 002 000 - 5  9 3

Williams, Alexander (7) and Coulter. Eades, Mazza (6), Wilson (7), Jorge (9) and Quesada. W - Williams (2-1). L - Mazza (0-1). S - Alexander (1). 2B - Brennan (5), Halcomb (2), Garver (13), Quesada (7). E - Brennan (11), Christensen (3), Eades (1), Walker (2). T - 2:58. A - 2,099.