Cedar Rapids Kernels Baseball

Kernels hurlers fan 15 in win

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Cedar Rapids scored four runs in the first inning and a pair of Kernels pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts in an 8-4 win over the South Bend Silver Hawks at Coveleski Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Jose Berrios (3-0) went six innings and allowed two runs on six hits. He struck out eight, walked none and hit three batters with pitches.

Steve Gruver collected his second save. He went three innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits. He struck out seven and walked one.

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Kernels putting Jones on DL

Cedar Rapids Kernels relief pitcher Tyler Jones left Saturday night's 6-5 loss at South Bend with an injury to his right (pitching) elbow and will be placed on the team's disabled list, Kernels Manager Jake Mauer confirmed via text message Sunday morning.

Jones entered Saturday's game to start the eighth inning in relief of starting pitcher Tyler Duffey and struck out the first hitter he faced. He threw only one pitch to the next batter before the coaches and trainer were called to the mound. Jones was pulled from the game and Josh Burris entered in relief.

Jones leads the Kernels bullpen with four saves and has a 2-1 record. He has made 10 appearances, striking out 15 hitters in 14 innings. He has a 3.21 ERA, but has allowed less than one batter to reach base per inning, as reflected in his 0.929 WHIP (walks + hits per inning pitched).

There has been no announcement concerning a replacement for Jones on the Kernels roster, which already was one player below the 25-player maximum.

Kernels fall at South Bend, 6-5

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The South Bend Silver Hawks topped the Kernels, 6-5, in 11 innings Saturday night before 3,688 fans in a Midwest League game at Coveleski Stadium.

The Kernels held a 5-2 lead going into the ninth inning, but the Silver Hawks tallied a trio of runs in the bottom of the ninth and Ryan Court's RBI single in the 11th gave South Bend the victory.

Late-inning walks doomed the Kernels. South Bend scored four runs in the ninth and 11th innings, and all four men reached with a base on balls. Six of the seven walks the Kernels issued in the game came in the last three innings.

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New Twins farm director likes Kernels

Brad Steil was a sports-minded graduate student when he joined the Minnesota Twins as an intern in their scouting department.

That was 14 years ago, and today he's the new Director of Minor League Operations for the entire organization.

"I've been a huge baseball fan my whole life," said Steil, now 36. "It's been fun so far. I feel very fortuante to be in this industry, period."

Steil is based in Minneapolis and spends about half the season visiting the Twins' minor league teams. He spent a week in Cedar Rapids for the homestand that ran from April 25 through April 30 and saw six games.

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Quick start, late runs send Kernels past 'Caps

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels tallied four runs in the first inning, added two more in the ninth and salvaged the third game of their series against the West Michigan Whitecaps with an 8-6 win Friday at Fifth Third Ballpark.

The Kernels (19-7) had lost the first two games of the series.

The Kernels first five batters reached base in the first inning. Jorge Polanco, Dalton Hicks and Adam Brett Walker had RBI singles and another scored on a wild pitch.

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Kernels drop 2nd straight in Michigan

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. - The Kernels dropped their second straight game to the West Michigan Whitecaps Thursday night, 4-3, in 10 innings before 2,999 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Danry Vasquez's single up the middle in the bottom of the 10th scored Devon Travis with the winning run. It was West Michigan's first lead of the game.

Byron Buxton gave the Kernels a 2-0 lead in the third inning with a two-run homer off the right-field pole. Buxton's fifth homer snuck past the glove of Whitecaps right fielder Jake Stewart as he leaped at the wall.

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Kernels' winning streak snapped at 9

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.

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Buxton bunt keys Kernels' 9th straight win

Byron Buxton belted a bomb in his second at-bat Tuesday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

While that blast staked the Kernels to a 4-0 lead, it was a bunt he laid down in the eighth inning that provided the winning margin in a 5-4 win that ran the Kernels' winning streak to nine games. The Midwest League baseball game was played before a crowd of 1,445 at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

One more win and the Kernels get to strap on the feedbag at the Ox Yoke Inn in the Amana Colonies as guests of the club's board of directors.

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Polanco helps Kernels win 8th straight

Some baseball players get a new glove or new bat for their 16th birthday.

Cedar Rapids Kernels infielder Jorge Polanco got a $700,000 bonus from the Minnesota Twins when he turned 16 in 2009 and signed as a free agent from the Dominican Republic.

"Yeah, nice happy birthday. Nice present," he said Monday night with a smile.

He's paying dividends for the Kernels now with his lively bat and good glove in the Midwest League.

Polanco went 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs as the Kernels dumped the Lansing Lugnuts, 9-1, for their eighth straight victory before 1,467 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

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