It may have been inevitable, with the way the Cedar Rapids Kernels have been struggling to hit for the past two weeks, but they finally reached the lowest of offensive lows Friday night.

The Kernels fell victim to a combined no-hitter by three Clinton pitchers, losing 2-0 before 3,068 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The game lasted only 1 hour and 58 minutes.

Clinton starter Daniel Missaki tossed seven innings of hitless ball, not even allowing a base-runner until Kernels first baseman Trey Vavra worked a full-count walk with two outs in the seventh inning.

Kody Kerski and Troy Scott each added another hitless inning to complete the 23rd no-hitter in LumberKings history.

The Kernels managed just two baserunners on walks by Vavra and Tanner English. Both runners were left stranded at first base.

It didn't help the Kernels that Zack Granite, their top hitter, was promoted to Fort Myers on Friday.

Kernels starting pitcher Stephen Gonsalves (2-1) worked seven innings, surrendering the two Clinton runs in the fifth inning, but giving up just five hits and striking out eight batters while suffering his first loss of the season.

“I feel bad for Gonsalves. He pitched his (butt) off,” Kernels Manager Jake Mauer said.

“He showed he didn’t have his best stuff, but he’s still able to get outs,” the manager added. “The ball was up a little bit, but he was able to make an adjustment – was able to get 7 innings, strike out eight. That’s pretty good.

"He gives you a chance to win. He really competed. Threw the ball really well.”

Michael Theofanopoulos added two perfect innings of relief after Gonsalves’ night was over.

Gonsalves had a special fan in the Perfect Game Field crowd. His father, Joaquin Gonsalves, made the trip from the family’s home in San Diego to see his son pitch. The results were not exactly what he or his son were hoping for, but that didn’t affect the pride the senior Gonsalves feels for his son’s efforts.

“We’re very proud. I think he’s handled everything well,” the father said. “He’s learned to be a pro and I think he’ll do well at it. He’s mature beyond his years. I’ll give his mother credit for that.”

You might think that seeing his son pitch would be a relatively common occurrence, but that’s not the case. It had been a while since he had seen him pitch in a game that counted.

“Not since his senior year of high school, which would have been 2013,” he said.

Joaquin Gonsalves will fly back to California Saturday. His son will hope to get a bit of offensive support the next time he takes the mound.

The Kernels will try again to put some runs on the board against Clinton when the two teams face off again on Saturday at 6:35 p.m.

CLINTON (2): Wawoe, ss, 4 0 1 0, Ward, 2b, 4 0 0 0, Jackson, rf, 2 0 0 0, DeCarlo, 3b, 4 0 0 0, Morales, lf, 4 1 1 1, Mack, cf, 3 1 2 0, Martin, c, 2 0 0 0, Brito, 1b, 3 0 1 1, Mariscal, dh, 3 0 0 0. Totals 29 2 5 2.

KERNELS (0): English, cf, 3 0 0 0, Gordon, ss, 4 0 0 0, Vavra, lf, 2 0 0 0, Murphy, rf, 3 0 0 0, Fernandez, dh, 3 0 0 0, Kuresa, 1b, 3 0 0 0, Kelly, 3b, 3 0 0 0, Navarreto, c, 3 0 0 0, Hinojosa, 2b, 3 0 0 0. Totals 27 0 0 0.

Clinton   000 020 000 - 2 5 0
Kernels   000 000 000 - 0 0 0

Missaki, Kerski (8), Scott (9) and Martin. Gonsalves, Theofanopoulos (8) and Navarreto. W - Missaki (1-0). L - Gonsalves (2-1). S - Scott (1). 2B - Brito (4). HR - Morales (2). T - 1:58. A - 3,068.