Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher Randy Rosario hadn’t been credited with a win since a start at Kane County on July 11.

On Thursday night against those same Cougars, he pitched well enough to win, but the Kernels offense was lacking as four Kane County pitchers combined for a 5-0 shutout before 2,214 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The loss was the third straight for the Kernels.

Rosario gave up the first three Kane County runs, but only one was earned. One of the errors leading to an unearned run in the second inning was committed by Rosario when he failed to catch a throw while covering first base.

The lefty retired the final 10 batters he faced, though several of those outs were well-hit balls.

The final two Cougar runs, both charged to reliever Yorman Landa in the eighth inning, were also unearned.

The Kernels out-hit the visitors 8-6, but came up empty in 11 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

The combination of failing to drive in runs and defensive lapses has been a mixture that Kernels manager Jake Mauer has seen too often for his liking this season.

"We sure made them look good,” Mauer lamented afterward. “Very disappointing. We just beat ourselves, really. We don’t make a play, pitcher doesn’t catch the ball, ball pops out of our catcher’s glove. Very ugly.”

Alex Real did his part with the bat for the Kernels, reaching base four times. He went 3-for-3, with a double and a pair of singles, and was hit by a pitch.

Real now has a five-game hitting streak and is 10-for-21 in those games. His recent efforts have not gone unnoticed by his manager.

“Real swung it good. He has been really the last week,” Mauer observed. “He and TJ (White) and Eddie (Corcino), those three guys have really been carrying the load offensively for probably a week and a half or so. We need some of these other guys to contribute.

"Nick (Gordon) swung the bat good a couple of times," continued Mauer. "If we can get him going and get some of these guys back in the swing of things here, it’ll help us score some runs.

“We’re not getting a lot of production out of the bottom of our order. We just need a couple two-out hits. We need somebody to be that clutch guy. Come up with runners in scoring position and find a way to get something done.”

Gordon contributed a pair of singles but no other Kernel had more than one hit.

The teams play again at 6:35 p.m. Friday.

KANE COUNTY (5): Vargas, ss, 4 2 1 0, Bray, cf, 4 0 1 0, Herum, 1b, 3 1 0 0, Castillo 3 1 1 0, Munoz, 3b, 3 1 2 1, Soto, dh, 3 0 0 0, Trahan, c, 4 0 0 1, Mack rf, 4 0 1 0, Reyes 4 0 0 0. Totals 32 5 6 2.

KERNELS (0): Valera, 2b, 4 0 1 0, Gordon, ss, 5 0 2 0, Corcino, rf, 4 0 0 0, White, 3b, 4 0 0 0, Real, dh, 3 0 3 0, Larson, lf, 3 0 0 0, Navarreto, c, 4 0 1 0, Kelly, 1b, 3 0 0 0, Diemer, cf, 4 0 1 0. Totals 34 0 8 0.

Kane County 021 000 020 - 5 6 0

Kernels         000 000 000 - 0 8 3

Miller, Martinez (6), Solis (7), Hernandez (8) and Trahan. Rosario, Landa (7), Tillery (9) and Navarreto. W - Miller (4-4), L - Rosario (1-5). 2B - Real (9), Valera (8). E - Rosario (1), White (17), Navarreto (2). T - 2:42. A - 2,214.