GENEVA, Ill. – Josh Taylor pitched a complete game with no walks and 13 strikeouts as the Kane County Cougars topped the Cedar Rapids Kernels 5-1 in front of 8,244 fans Friday at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

The Kernels managed nine hits, but Taylor (2-1) minimized the damage and lowered his ERA to 1.67.

Nick Gordon singled in the first inning for Cedar Rapids, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a single by Edgar Corcino and scored on a single by Zack Larson to give the Kernels a 1-0 lead early. But it was all Cougars for the rest of the night.

Elvin Soto hit a solo home run for Kane County (63-40), and Colin Bray, Ryan Gebhardt and Quinnton Mack each had two hits.

Tanner English doubled for Cedar Rapids (61-44), and Corcino and Brett Doe each hit 2-for-4.

Randy Rosario (1-2) pitched six innings for the loss with nine hits, four earned runs, one walk and four strikeouts.

The series continues at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

KERNELS (1): English, cf, 4 0 1 0, Gordon, ss, 4 1 1 0, Corcino, rf, 4 0 2 0, Larson, dh, 4 0 1 1, Doe, 3b, 4 0 2 0, Kuresa, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Navarreto, c, 3 0 0 0, Diemer, lf, 3 0 1 0, Kelly, 2b, 3 0 1 0. Totals 33 1 9 1.

KANE COUNTY (5): Vargas, ss, 5 0 1 0, Taylor, rf, 4 0 0 0, Herum, 1b, 4 0 1 1, Castillo, dh, 4 0 0 0, Bray, cf, 4 1 2 0, Gebhardt, 2b, 4 2 2 0, Munoz, 3b, 4 1 1 1, Soto, c, 3 1 2 1, Mack, lf, 4 0 2 1. Totals 36 5 11 3.

Kernels          100 000 000 – 1  9 1

Kane County  020 200 01x – 5 11 0

Rosario, Theofanopoulos (7) and Navarreto. Taylor and Soto. W – Taylor (2-1), L – Rosario (1-2). 2B – English (15), Gebhardt (7), Munoz (11), Bray (18), Herum (17). HR – Soto (1). T – 2:04. A – 8,244.