The Cedar Rapids Kernels started the 2015 season with a sweep at Kane County. The Cougars arrived at Veterans Memorial Stadium intent on returning the favor this weekend.

After a rainout of the series opener Friday night, 1,166 fans paid to see Kane County sweep both ends of a doubleheader with the Kernels on Saturday, starting with a 6-1 triumph in the opener and a 2-1 win in the nightcap.

Despite losing two, the Kernels got an encouraging performance from pitcher Felix Jorge (1-1) in Game 2.

Jorge took the loss but threw six strong innings. He gave up just four hits, one walk and a hit batsman, striking out five Cougars.

Quite a turnaround for a pitcher who opened last season with the Kernels and, after a 2-5 start with a 9.00 ERA, was sent back to Extended Spring Training.

This season, Jorge has opened with a 1.50 ERA after three starts.

“This is the Jorge we thought we were getting last year,” Manager Jake Mauer said of the 21-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic.

Kernels pitching coach Henry Bonilla, who also was Jorge’s pitching coach at rookie-level Elizabethton last season, talked about the difference in Jorge this season compared to last.

“It’s just kind of getting his confidence back,” Bonilla explained. “(Last season was) the first time he’s really struggled, probably as an amateur and a pro. It’s good to see him get some good games under him early, especially with the cold.

"I think the cold kind of had him a little bit last year. But he’s kind of taken responsibility for that and he’s gone forward.”

The Kernels fell to 11-6 after being outscored 8-2 in the twinbill. Mauer expressed continued frustration with his lineup.

“Two runs in 14 innings ain’t gonna get it done,” he lamented.

Kernels hitters were far too anxious to swing at first pitches for their manager’s taste.

“I’m going to have to start telling them to take pitches, because it doesn’t seem to be sinking in," Mauer said. "We just go up and hack and get ourselves out. It’s frustrating.

“Guys are panicking a little bit. Trying to do too much.”

While the nightcap was a tightly played game in the field by both teams, the opener was anything but for the Kernels.

The Cougars pounded out 10 hits against Cedar Rapids pitching and benefited from four errors. All four Kernels infielders committed an error.

The Kernels scored one run on three hits in third to draw within 3-1, but had just three hits in the game. First baseman Tyler Kuresa had a pair of singles in three trips to the plate, the only Kernel with multiple hits.

Michael Cederoth (0-2) took the loss, giving up four runs (three of them earned) and eight hits in four innings. He struck out three Cougars and walked none.

Sam Clay worked two shutout innings for the Kernels before CK Irby was touched for a pair of runs in the seventh inning.

No Kernels hitter had more than one hit in Game 2.

Nick Gordon scored the Kernels’ only run in the nightcap. After doubling with one out in the sixth inning, Gordon move to third base on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch.

That was one of few bright spots for Gordon. Over the two games, he grounded in to three double-plays and lined into another twin-killing.

After Jorge’s six innings in Game 2, Miles Nordgren finished up with a perfect seventh inning.

Nordgren joined the Kernels on the road this past week, replacing pitcher John Curtiss on the roster. Curtiss and catcher Jorge Fernandez are both on the club’s disabled list after suffering concussions.

Mauer indicated he has some hope of seeing both players rejoin the team shortly.

“Curtiss is going to throw a live (batting practice) session tomorrow morning,” Mauer said. “We’ll see how that goes.”

Mauer added that Fernandez still needs to pass concussion tests this week, but if that happens and he gets medical approval, he could rejoin the club during their series with Quad Cities.

GAME1

KANE COUNTY (6): Bray, cf, 4 1 2 1, Alcantara, ss, 4 0 0 0, Heyman, lf, 4 0 3 1, Herum, 1b, 4 0 1 0, Trahan, dh, 3 1 0 0, Regis, 3b, 2 2 1 0 Ozuna, 2b, 4 1 2 2, Queliz, C, 4 0 0 0, Reyes, rf, 2 1 1 1. Totals: 31 6 10 6.

KERNELS (1): Granite, lf, 2 0 1 0, Gordon, ss, 3 0 1 0, Vavra, dh, 3 0 0 0, Murphy, rf, 3 0 0 0, Kuresa, 1b, 3 0 2 0, White, 3b, 3 0 0 0, Hinojosa, 2b, 3 1 1 0, Navaretto, c, 3 0 0 0, English, cf, 2 0 1 1. Totals: 25 1 6 1.

Kane County 001 300 2 - 6 10 0
Kernels         001 000 0 - 1  6 4

Jones, McCullough (7) and Queliz. Cederoth, Clay (5), Irby (7) and Navarreto. WP - Jones (1-2). LP - Cederoth (0-2). 2B - Gordon (1), 3B - Reyes (1), Ozuna (2). E - Kuresa (1), Hinojosa (2), Gordon (3), White (3). T - 2:00.

GAME 2

KANE COUNTY (2): Bray, cf, 3 0 0 0, Alcantara, ss, 3 0 1 0, Heyman, lf, 2 1 0 0, McQuail, dh, 2 1 0 0, Trahan, c, 3 0 0 0, Herum, 1b, 3 0 1 2, Regis, 3b, 3 0 1 0, Ozuna, 2b, 2 0 0 0, Reyes, rf, 2 0 1 0. Totals: 23 2 4 2.

KERNELS (1): Granite, lf, 2 0 1 0, Gordon, ss, 3 1 1 0, Larson, rf, 3 0 0 0, Vavra, dh, 3 0 1 0, Kuresa, 1b, 3 0 0 0, White, 3b, 3 0 1 0, Kelly 2b, 2 0 0 0, Doe, c, 3 0 0 0, English, cf, 2 0 0 0. Totals: 24 1 4 0.

Kane County 000 200 0 - 2 4 0
Kernels         000 001 0 - 1 4 0

Miller, Baker (6), Curtis (6) and Trahan. Jorge, Nordgren (6) and Doe. WP - Miller (2-1). LP - Jorge (1-1). Sv - Curtis (2). 2B - Herum (1), Gordon (2), Vavra (2). T - 1:47. A - 1,166