They don't have instant replay in Midwest League games, so there was nothing the Cedar Rapids Kernels could do about a bum call in the 11th inning Thursday.

It helped cost them the game.

The Burlington Bees blanked the Kernels, 2-0, in 11 innings before a season-high crowd of 4,173 fans on Fireworks Night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Keaton Steele became the first Kernels pitcher this year to toss nine innings, but he left with the score tied 0-0 and did not get a decision for his fine work.

"Outstanding. He was fantastic," said manager Jake Mauer.

Steele was a spectator when the bad call hurt the Kernels in the top of the 11th inning. Burlington shortstop Jake Yacinich was called safe at first on a sacrifice bunt when the field umpire ruled that Kernels first baseman Jorge Fernandez did not get his foot on the bag in time after he fielded a wide throw by pitcher Michael Theofanopoulos.

The Mediacom replay clearly showed that Fernandez beat Yacinich to the bag, but there was nothing the Kernels could do about it

except voice their displeasure. They have instant replay in the Major Leagues, but not the Midwest League.

"I get to the bag, but everybody makes mistakes," said Fernandez. "He said I was off the bag, but I was on it. Yeah, I was on the bag."

Burlington capitalized on the opportunity and scored two scratch runs on a bunt single, a bloop single and a wild pitch for the only two runs in the game.

Mauer would be in favor of instant replays to get the call right, but noted there would not have been a problem if Theofanopoulos had made an accurate throw, instead of forcing Fernandez to leave the bag and then get back.

Theofanopoulos was charged with a throwing error.

"It's such a routine play," said Mauer. "All you have to do is flip the ball to the first baseman and it's an out. Any time you leave it in the umpire's hands, it's usually not going to work out too good."

The Kernels loaded the bases in the bottom of the 11th with one out, but Alex Real and Brett Doe -- a pair of .300 hitters -- could not get the ball out of the infield.

The Kernels collected only five singles all night and did nothing to reward Steele for his fine work on the mound.

"It's a shame," said Mauer. "The guy throws nine innings and doesn't get a decision. We made it pretty easy on them.

"It's the same thing," said Mauer. "Our guys are having a real hard time making any adjustments. Over and over and over again."

The Kernels (40-27) begin a three-game series Friday night at Clinton to finish the first half of the season. The Kernels have already clinched a playoff spot, but Mauer wants to see his club start functioning better at the plate.

"We'll go over there and hopefully hit a little better," he remarked.

BURLINGTON (2): Yacinich, ss, 4 1 1 0, Hermosillo, cf, 5 0 1 0, Daniel, 2b, 5 0 2 1, Delgado, dh, 5 0 2 0, Houchins, 3b, 5 0 0 0, Adams, rf, 5 0 0 0, Seiz, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Gildea, c, 4 0 1 0, Gretzky, lf, 4 0 2 0, Salcedo, pr/lf, 0 1 0 0. Totals 41 2 9 1.

KERNELS (0): English, cf, 5 0 1 0, Gordon, ss, 3 0 2 0, Corcino, rf, 3 0 0 0, Real, c, 5 0 0 0, Doe, dh, 5 0 0 0, Fernandez, 1b, 3 0 0 0, Murphy, lf, 3 0 1 0, Kelly, 2b, 4 0 1 0, Valera, 3b, 3 0 0 0. Totals 34 0 5 0.

Burlington   000 000 000 02 - 2 9 1

Kernels       000 000 000 00 - 0 5 1

Jewell, Klonowski (6), Piche (8), Paredes (9), Carpenter (10) and Gildea. Steele, Theofanopoulos (10) and Real. W - Carpenter (1-1). L - Theofanopoulos (1-2). E - Gildea (5), Theofanopoulos (1). T - 2:43. A - 4,173.