FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Cedar Rapids Kernels suffered their first loss on a six-game Eastern Division road trip as they were shut out, 1-0, by the Fort Wayne Tincaps on Saturday night at Parkview Field. The Kernels out-hit the Tincaps, 9-5, but left 13 runners on base and were just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Tim Atherton (5-3) delivered a quality start, despite taking the loss. Atherton allowed a run on five hits and struck out nine over seven innings pitched. Caleb Brewer struck out two over an inning of relief. It is the fourth game in a row that the Kernels have struck out 10 or more batters in a game.

Adam Brett Walker went 2-for-5 with a double. Jonathan Murphy and Niko Goodrum both had two hits for the Kernels. Travis Harrison, Jeremias Pineda and Joel Licon each had a hit and Pineda added a stolen base.

Fort Wayne starter Bryan Rodriguez (2-4) picked up the win, allowing six hits over seven innings. He walked three and struck out five. A trio of Fort Wayne pitchers combined to keep the Kernels off the scoreboard. Trevor Gott picked up the save, getting Walker to ground out to third with the bases loaded to end the game.

Fort Wayne scored its run in the sixth inning on an RBI groundout by Diego Goris that scored Mallex Smith from third.

The Kernels look to even the series with Fort Wayne on Sunday afternoon. Mason Melotakis (7-3, 3.83) starts for the Kernels against Joe Ross (4-4, 3.78) for Fort Wayne. Game time is 2:05 p.m. (Iowa time).

KERNELS (0): Murphy, cf, 4 0 2 0, Goodrum, ss, 5 0 2 0, Kepler, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Walker, rf, 5 0 2 0, Grimes, c, 3 0 0 0, Harrison, 3b, 2 0 1 0, Licon, 3b, 4 0 1 0, Rodriguez, dh, 4 0 0 0, Pineda, lf, 4 0 1 0. Totals 35 0 9 0.

FORT WAYNE (1): Smith, cf, 4 1 2 0, Adamson, lf, 3 0 1 0, Goris, 1b, 3 0 0 1, Quintana, dh, 3 0 0 0, Burke, 3b, 3 0 0 0, Stubblefield, ss, 3 0 1 0, Daal, c, 3 0 1 0, Adams, rf, 3 0 0 0, Charles, 2b, 3 0 0 0. Totals 28 1 5 1.

Kernels        000 000 000 - 0 9 0
Fort Wayne  000 001 00x - 1 5 0

Atherton, Brewer (8) and Grimes. BRodriguez, Nunn (8), Madrid (9), Gott (9) and Daal. W-BRodriguez (2-4). L-Atherton (5-3). Sv-Gott (1). 2B-Walker (21), Smith (13). SB-Pineda (10), Smith (38). T-2:34. A-7,883.