COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. - Austin Schotts' two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning broke a 2-2 tie and sent West Michigan past the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 7-2, Wednesday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.

The loss snapped the Kernels' nine-game winning streak and left them one short of earning a free meal at the Ox Yoke Inn in the Amana Colonies.

The Kernels (18-6) jumped off to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on sacrifice flies by Jorge Polanco and Dalton Hicks.

West Michigan (11-13) pushed across single runs in the second and fifth innings to tie the game, 2-2. The first run scored on a ground out, the second on a passed ball.

Mario Martinez led off the West Michigan seventh with a single and Schotts followed with his home run off Kernels starter Brett Lee (2-1).

Tim Atherton came on and gave up three more runs in the frame. West Michigan's Jake Stewart hit a solo home run. Lance Durham and Bennett Pickar added run-scoring singles.

Josh Burris pitched the eighth inning for the Kernels.

West Michigan's Brennan Smith (2-0) pitched the final three innings and picked up the win for the Whitecaps.

The Kernels managed just five hits off West Michigan pitching. Adam Brett Walker had a pair of doubles.

The Kernels play at West Michigan again on Thursday at 5:35 p.m. (Iowa time).

KERNELS (2): Buxton, cf, 2 1 0 0, Goodrum, ss, 4 1 1 0, Polanco, 2b, 3 0 1 1, Dalton Hicks, 1b, 3 0 0 1, Walker, rf, 4 0 2 0, Harrison, 3b, 4 0 1 0, Grimes, c, 2 0 0 0, Jimenez, lf, 4 0 0 0, Williams, dh, 3 0 0 0, Lee, p, 0 0 0 0, Atherton, p, 0 0 0 0, Burris, p, 0 0 0 0. Totals 29 2 5 2.

WEST MICHIGAN (7): Reaves, ss, 4 0 1 0, Stewart, rf, 5 1 3 1, Travis, 2b, 2 1 1 0, Holm, 1b, 3 1 0 0, Durham, dh, 4 1 2 1, Vasquez, lf, 3 0 0 0, Pickar, c, 4 0 1 2, Martinez, 3b, 4 1 1 0, Schotts, cf, 4 2 2 2, Randall, p, 0 0 0 0, Smith, p, 0 0 0 0. Totals 33 7 11 6.

Kernels              200 000 000 - 2  5  1
West Michigan  010 010 50x - 7 11  2

Lee, Atherton (7), Burris (8) and Grimes. Randall, Smith (7) and Pickar. W - Smith (2-0). L - Lee (2-1). 2B - Walker 2 (5), Durham (11), Reaves (3). HR - Schotts (1), Stewart (3). SB - Buxton (10), Holm (3), Durham (1). S - Vasquez. SF - Polanco, Hicks. E - Atherton (1), Schotts (1), Holm (2). T - 2:22. A - 2,163.