Cedar Rapids Kernels Baseball

Kernels blank Bandits, 1-0, in 11

DAVENPORT - The Cedar Rapids Kernels got more good pitching Tuesday and defeated the Quad Cities River Bandits, 1-0, in 11 innings in a Midwest League game before 2,079 fans at Modern Woodmen Park.

T.J. White's sacrifice fly drove in Zack Larson with the game's only run, giving the Kernels the victory in the series opener. The win snapped a three-game losing streak.

Larson led off the 11th inning with a single to left-center, his second hit of the day. Two straight errors by Quad Cities pitcher Joe Musgrove on bunts loaded the bases. White then lifted the sacrifice fly to right, scoring Larson from third base.

Cam Booser (1-0) earned the victory. The southpaw yielded two hits and two walks in two scoreless innings while striking out three. Trevor Hildenberger recorded his second save with a scoreless 11th inning, striking out one and allowing one hit.

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Vavra, Gonsalves honored by MWL

Cedar Rapids Kernels' infielder Trey Vavra has been named Midwest League Player of the Week and Kernels pitcher Stephen Gonsalves has been named Pitcher of the Week for the week ending Sunday.

Vavra hit .409 in six games last week, with two doubles, a triple, a home run and seven RBI. He posted a .458 slugging percentage and a .727 OPS.

Gonsalves made one start on April 23rd at Wisconsin where he pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing a walk, hitting one batter and striking out out 11.

Vavra and Gonsalves are the second and third Kernels to be honored by the Midwest League this season and it is the first time since the opening the new Veterans Memorial Stadium in 2002 that the Kernels have swept the league's weekly awards.

Kernels waste good work by Nolasco

Minnesota Twins pitcher Ricky Nolasco did his part to help the Cedar Rapids Kernels Sunday afternoon, but once again the Kernels did not do enough to help themselves in a 3-2 loss to Kane County before 1,397 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The light-hitting Kernels scored only four runs in the three-game series against Kane County and dropped all three games.

Nolasco, working to recover from inflammation in his right elbow, threw 66 pitches in five innings before calling it a day. Kane County scored an unearned run against him in the fifth inning when Kernels center fielder Tanner English dropped a long fly ball, but otherwise Nolasco had a fairly easy time against Class A minor leaguers.

He struck out five batters, allowed three hits, did not walk anyone and left with a no-decision.

"It was good," said Nolasco, who has been on the disabled list since April 9. "The main thing was just to get back into it.

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Kane County sweeps past Kernels

The Cedar Rapids Kernels started the 2015 season with a sweep at Kane County. The Cougars arrived at Veterans Memorial Stadium intent on returning the favor this weekend.

After a rainout of the series opener Friday night, 1,166 fans paid to see Kane County sweep both ends of a doubleheader with the Kernels on Saturday, starting with a 6-1 triumph in the opener and a 2-1 win in the nightcap.

Despite losing two, the Kernels got an encouraging performance from pitcher Felix Jorge (1-1) in Game 2.

Jorge took the loss but threw six strong innings. He gave up just four hits, one walk and a hit batsman, striking out five Cougars.

Quite a turnaround for a pitcher who opened last season with the Kernels and, after a 2-5 start with a 9.00 ERA, was sent back to Extended Spring Training.

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Kernels rained out; twinbill Saturday

The Cedar Rapids Kernels were rained out Friday night against Kane County and will try to play a doubleheader Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium at 2 p.m., weather permitting.

Both games are scheduled for seven innings.

The Kernels waited more than 90 minutes Friday night before postponing the opening game of the series against Kane County.

Nolasco rehab start Sunday in C.R.

The Minnesota Twins have rescheduled Ricky Nolasco's rehab start with the Cedar Rapids Kernels for Sunday against the Kane County Cougars at 2:05 p.m.

Nolasco is making his second rehab stint with the Kernels. He made two starts (both no-decisions) with a 2.89 ERA allowing three runs on 10 hits, walking one and striking out eight over 9.1 innings.

Nolasco will be returning to Minneapolis immediately following his rehab start with the Kernels and will NOT be available on the field after the game for the player autograph session following the game.

Gonsalves gem lifts Kernels

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. - Stephen Gonsalves allowed just one hit and struck out 11 in seven innings on Thursday afternoon as the Cedar Rapids Kernels completed the three-game sweep with a 3-0 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers before 476 fans at Fox Cities Stadium.

The lone hit Wisconsin hit was a bunt single in in the fourth inning. Trevor Hildenberger tossed two perfect innings for his first save. The Kernels have won four games in a row. Gonsalves (2-0) has now struck out at least nine in all three of his starts, totaling 30 strikeouts and 11 hits allowed in 20 innings Wisconsin had three base runners on Thursday.

Gonsalves retired the first 10 hitters before Brandon Diaz reached with a bunt single that rolled up the first base line in the fourth inning. He then hit Dustin DeMuth with a pitch. Following the hit batter, Gonsalves retired the next 10 Timber Rattlers before walking Elvis Rubio in the seventh inning. That was the final Wisconsin hitter to reach base.

Hildenberger recorded two strikeouts in his two perfect innings out of the bullpen as the duo combined for 13 strikeouts and one walk.

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Vavra sparks Kernels by Wisconsin

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. - Trey Vavra continued his assault of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Wednesday night.

Vavra went 4-for-4 with a double and an RBI as the Cedar Rapids Kernels edged the Timber Rattlers, 5-4, before 702 brave fans on another frigid night in Wisconsin.

Vavra went 3-for-5 with a triple, home run and five RBIs against the Timber Rattlers in a 10-1 victory Tuesday night. He is now hitting .372 for the season.

The game-time temperature was 38 degrees with a stiff wind. The Kernels jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and held on from there.

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Kernels bite Timber Rattlers, 10-1

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels rolled to a 10-1 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Tuesday night before a skimpy gathering of 320 fans on a cold night at Fox Cities Stadium.

The temperature was in the 30's and a light snow began falling in the ninth inning. The wind whipped at about 20 mph.

Trey Vavra had a big night for the Kernels as he went 3-for-5 with a home run, triple and five runs batted in. Mat Batts (2-0) had a strong outing on the mound, allowing one run on three hits over 6 2/3 innings. Zack Larson also collected three hits.

The 10 runs were a season-high for the Kernels while their 14 hits matched a season-high.

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