Lansing - Wednesday's early start time made the Lugnuts appear to be still asleep. Errors cost Lansing the game, losing to the Cedar Rapids Kernels 5-3.

Missed catches in the outfield and bad decisions made in the infield were a large factor in the Lansing (42-30) loss.

"It's tough to play a noon game after you're used to the clock being at night," Lugnuts Manager Julio Garcia said. "Unfortunately, we had a couple of dropped balls and we weren't able to come back from it."

The game started off slow for both teams, neither team posting any runs until the sixth inning.

Lansing starting pitcher Anderson Tavarez (7-4) lost a little of his pitching touch in the sixth, allowing three straight singles and one double in the first four batters.

The first of the Kernels runs came off catcher Alex Dvorsky's single past third to bring in shortstop Eric Aybar.

It was the third game in a row the Kernels scored first.

On the next play, Cedar Rapids (35-4) scored again with designated hitter Jared Abruzzo's double down the left field line. Second baseman Alberto Callaspo scored on the play to put Cedar Rapids ahead by two.

With the lead 2-0 and still no outs, the Kernels took advantage of another line drive to left field by third baseman Greg Porter to bring in two more runs.

Dvorsky and Abruzzo crossed the plate to give the Kernels a 4-0 lead.

"The last inning that I pitched was bad," Tavarez said. "I just have to try to come back next time."

With four straight runs scored, the Lugnuts brought in relief pitcher Federico Baez to try to stop the defensive bleeding. Baez struck out two to end the inning.

But the Lugnuts would try to make a run of their own in their half of the sixth.

Lansing left fielder Keith Butler lead off the inning and quickly advanced to second on a steal after walking. Shortstop Buck Coats hit a line drive double past third that drove Butler home.

After stealing a base to get to third, Coats would come home via a shot to left field by right fielder J.J. Johnson to get with two of the Kernels.

The Lugnuts added one in the eighth, but that would be the closest the 'Nuts would get to the Kernels.

Cedar Rapids scored one more run in the eighth inning to put the Lugnuts away.

"It was a rough day," Johnson said. "But that's baseball and you have days like that, you just have to keep battling."

Lansing leads the four-game series 2-1, and is now in a four-way tie for first place in the Eastern division.

Game four is tonight at 7:05 at Oldsmobile Park, 505 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing.