BELOIT — The Sky Carp rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to pound the Cedar Rapids Kernels 15-5 and split the six-game series at ABC Supply Stadium.
The Kernels scored a run in the first and two more in the second against Sky Carp starter Aiden May before the offense was unleashed, led by third baseman Juan Mateus.
The Sky Carp scored three runs in the second inning, two of them coming on triple by Chase Jaworsky. The Mateus show began in the third inning when he led the inning off with his first homer of the season.
The Carp rallied for five more runs in the fourth to take command of the game, with Mateus cracking a three-run homer to key the uprising.
Not satisfied with nine runs, the Carp pounded out six more in the seventh, highlighted by a three-run blast from Connor Caskenette.
May ended up allowing four runs (three earned) in 5 2-3 innings to pick up the win, and the Sky Carp bullpen was tough enough to not allow any anxious moments before a solid crowd on Sunday Family Funday.
The Sky Carp will take to the road now, heading for South Bend for a six-game series with the Cubs. They will return to ABC Supply Stadium for a six-game series with the Great Lakes Loons, beginning with a pair of matinees.
Tuesday, the teams will play at 1 p.m., while Wednesday the game begins at 11:05 a.m.