Cedar Rapids Kernels Baseball

Kernels tumble in 15 without Mauer

Minnesota Twins star Joe Mauer left for the Twin Cities before the Cedar Rapids Kernels took the field Sunday, but Minnesota pitcher Ricky Nolasco still had some unfinished rehab business of his own this weekend.

Chances are, even Nolasco, who left the game with two outs in the sixth inning, was nearing home by the time the Kane County Cougars finished off the Kernels, 7-4, in the 15th inning in a game that lasted an even five hours.

Nolasco surrendered three runs to the Cougars on seven hits.

After throwing two shutout innings in the 13th and 14th innings, Chris Mazza (3-3) took the loss when he gave up three runs in the 15th.

The Kernels could muster just two hits in 13 opportunities with runners in scoring position, something Manager Jake Mauer was disappointed with after the game.

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Burdi gets a save and his jersey (for $500)

Cedar Rapids pitcher Nick Burdi wanted a souvenir of his summer with the Kernels, so he asked his girlfriend to bid on the special Hawaiian jersey he wore during Saturday night's game at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

It reportedly cost $500 for his girlfriend to submit the winning bid during the silent auction, but Burdi figured it was worth it.

The 6-foot-5 flamethrower collected his fourth save by tossing a scoreless ninth inning as the Kernels trimmed Kane County, 3-2, before a season-high crowd of 5,570 fans on Jimmy Buffett Night and Hawaiian Jersey Night at the ballpark.

Burdi got the save and the shirt.

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Jake ejected, Joe stars, Kernels lose

The Cedar Rapids Kernels did not charge nearly enough money for tickets to Friday night's game at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Jake Mauer got ejected and gave the umpires an earful before he left and his brother Joe got three hits and helped ignite a big rally in the ninth inning.

There were post-game fireworks for the 5,307 fans to enjoy as well, a regular staple at Friday night home games.

The only thing that was missing was a dramatic come-from-behind victory, and the Kernels came darn close to supplying that as well.

Cedar Rapids rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth but fell a run shy against Kane County, 6-5, in a battle for first place in the Western Division of the Midwest League.

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Kernels tie for top with clutch win

If you like a good pennant race, look no further than the Western Division of the Midwest League.

It doesn't get any tighter than this.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels moved into a three-way tie for first place in the Western Division Thursday night when they rallied for a 4-3 victory in 11 innings over Kane County before 3,347 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Mitch Garver led off the bottom of the 11th by ripping a double to left-center field, then Bryan Haar followed with a double off the left-field wall to drive in pinch-runner Jon Murphy with the winning run.

The victory left Cedar Rapids, Kane County and Wisconsin tied for first place in the second-half standings with identical 27-19 records with 24 games left in the regular season.

Kane County was the first-half champ and has already clinched a playoff spot. If the season ended right now, Cedar Rapids and Wisconsin would make the playoffs as well.

The Kernels trailed, 3-1, and appeared headed for their fourth loss in their last five games, but they scored twice in the bottom of the eighth and prevailed in extra innings, thanks in great part to more strong work by the bullpen.

"That's a big win against a really good team," said Garver. "That's a tough team to beat."

Kane County has the best overall record in the Midwest League at 72-44.

"Hopefully it's one of those wins that keeps us rolling and we can rattle off a bunch in a row," said Kernels Manager Jake Mauer.

Garver tied the game, 3-3, with a clutch two-out single in the bottom of the eighth and got things started with his double in the 11th.

Haar belted a hanging slider off the wall, but Jon Murphy (the pinch-runner) hesitated at second base to see if the ball would be caught in case he needed to tag up. It turned out to be a fairly close play at the plate, but Murphy got across safely.

The night had an unhappy ending for Murphy, who was called into Mauer's office after the game and informed he has been released by the Minnesota Twins organization. Murphy, an outfielder, was hitting .207.

Mauer said outfielder Zach Granite will come off the disabled list Friday and replace Murphy on the roster.

Matt Batts pitched the first six innings for the Kernels. He struck out eight batters and did not walk anyone, but he was touched for three runs (two earned) on five hits.

The Cedar Rapids bullpen sparkled again with Jared Wilson, Jake Reed and Dallas Gallant combining for five shutout innings while allowing only one hit. Reed struck out four batters in two innings and has not allowed an earned run in his last 12.2 innings.

"If it's a bullpen battle, I'm putting money on us, because we have guys back there who are lights out," said Garver, one of the catchers.

Garver ranks in the top 10 in the Midwest League in RBIs, home runs and batting average and is a strong candidate to become the Kernels' Most Valuable Player, but Haar, Chad Christensen and slick-fielding shortstop Engelb Vielma deserve consideration as well. Christensen ranks in the top-5 in the league in runs scored.

"When one of us struggles, the other guys pick us up," said Haar. "When we all click, it's going to be real nice."

Mauer is not ready to cast a vote for MVP. "You can put them all in the mix, really," he said about Garver, Haar, Christensen, Vielma and others.

"It would be tough just to single one guy out, without a doubt," said Mauer. "I think that's what makes us dangerous, because we don't rely on one guy."

Haar made a brilliant play at third base on a grounder behind the bag Thursday. He dove for the ball into foul territory, leaped to his feet and gunned the ball to Christensen for the out at first base.

Garver and Vielma both went 3-for-4 for the Kernels.

Minnesota Twins star Joe Mauer, on loan to the Kernels during an injury rehab assignment this week, is scheduled to play for Cedar Rapids this Friday, Saturday and Sunday against Kane County, according to Jake Mauer.

The game times are 6:35 p.m. Friday, 5:05 p.m. Saturday and 2:05 p.m. Sunday.

Joe Mauer did not play Thursday. It was a planned off-day for Mauer.

KANE COUNTY (3): Dunston, lf, 5 2 1 0, Young, 2b, 5 1 2 1, Carhart, 1b, 5 0 0 0, Caratini, c, 4 0 1 2, Brockmeyer, dh, 4 0 1 0, Candelario, 3b, 4 0 0 0, Baez, rf, 4 0 1 0, Penalver, ss, 4 0 0 0, Martin, cf, 4 0 0 0. Totals 39 3 6 3.

KERNELS (4): Walker, 2b, 5 1 1 0, Christensen, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Garver, c, 4 0 3 1, J.Murphy, pr, 0 1 0 0, Haar, 3b, 5 0 1 1, Swim, rf, 4 1 1 0, M.Murphy, cf, 4 0 1 1, Williams, lf, 4 0 0 0, Vielma, ss, 4 1 3 0, Vavra, dh, 4 0 0 1. Totals 38 4 10 4.

Kane County    000 201 000 00 - 3 6 1
Kernels        010 000 020 01 - 4 10 1

Underwood, Garner (7), Rakkar (8), Carrillo (11) and Caratini. Batts, Wilson (7), Reed (9), Gallant (11) and Garver. W - Gallant (2-1). L - Carrillo (0-1). 2B - Young (3), M.Murphy (2), Vielma (12), Garver (21), Haar (20). 3B - Dunston (6), Caratini (1). E - Garner (1), Batts (1). T - 3:09. A - 3,347.

Vavra enjoys playing ball with Mauer

Tanner Vavra used to hang around the batting cages at the Metrodome and Target Field in Minneapolis, watching Joe Mauer take batting practice with the Minnesota Twins and admiring the way he played ball.

Vavra had an even better view Wednesday night when he played second base for the Cedar Rapids Kernels and Mauer was just a few feet away at first base for the Kernels.

"It's kind of cool, being on the same field with somebody you looked up to and watched during a bit of your high school days and middle school days," said Vavra. "It was a lot of fun. A lot of fun to be out there with him."

Vavra's father, Joe, is a coach with the Minnesota Twins, so Vavra got to spend part of his summers with the Major League team, watching Mauer win batting titles and become a major star.

Mauer has been with the Kernels this week on a rehab assignment, trying to recover from a strained oblique muscle, while Vavra has been with the club all season.

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Kernels, Twins extend deal through 2020

The Cedar Rapids Kernels have signed a four-year extension of their player development contract (PDC) with the Minnesota Twins, the club announced Wednesday.

The extended contract will run through the end of the 2020 season.

This extension is the maximum allowed by Major League and Minor League Baseball. The extension was approved Tuesday afternoon by the Kernels' Board of Directors and will be formally signed at a ceremony before Wednesday night's game against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

"The Twins organization is very happy to extend our affiliation agreement with the Cedar Rapids Kernels," said Brad Steil, Director of Minor League Operations with the Twins. "We have had two outstanding years working with the Kernels organization and we are very appreciative of the way the Cedar Rapids community has embraced our players and coaches. We look forward to continuing our partnership both on the field and in the community."

Kernels President Gary Keoppel said, "We are very excited to continue this chapter in Kernels baseball by extending our agreement with the Twins. Our fans continue to show their appreciation with their continued support for the Kernels and the Twins."

Mauer, Nolasco give Kernels a boost

Joe Mauer has scored 726 runs during his all-star career with the Minnesota Twins, but he got an extra jolt of adrenaline Tuesday night when his brother asked him to score a run for the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

Mauer was perched on second base in the third inning when Bryan Haar hit a single to left field. Mauer got a good jump and looked at the third-base coach to see what he wanted him to do.

The coach was none other than Jake Mauer, Joe's protective older brother. Jake gave Joe the signal to score even though Joe had not played in a game since July 1 and is recovering from a strained oblique muscle.

"I kind of had a feeling off the bat that, knowing Jake, I'd be going home," Joe Mauer said with a smile, acknowledging Jake's competitive nature and good judgment.

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Twins, Kernels eye 4-year extension

The Minnesota Twins and Cedar Rapids Kernels have been delighted with their partnership the past two years since signing a Player Development Contract in September of 2012.

Now it appears both sides have agreed to a four-year extension of their original four-year deal, which would push the arrangement through the 2020 season.

Brad Steil, Minnesota's director of minor league operations, met Tuesday afternoon with Kernels officials and the Kernels' Board of Directors at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Neither side would publicly confirm an agreement had been reached, but one board member said a "positive" announcement could be made Wednesday.

"The bottom line is, we're both very happy with the agreement after almost two years together now," said Kernels Board President Gary Keoppel. "Both of our goals is to make it a long-term relationship."

Keoppel stopped short of confirming an agreement had been reached.

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Mauer sits as Kernels fall to Wisconsin

Cedar Rapids Kernels Manager Jake Mauer had a former American League MVP and six-time all-star on his bench in the ninth inning of a tight ballgame Monday night, but there was no way he was going to use his younger brother in that situation.

Joe Mauer stayed on the bench as the Kernels lost to Wisconsin, 4-3, before 1,902 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Joe Mauer practiced with the Kernels Monday afternoon and took batting practice, but the Minnesota Twins did not want him to play until Tuesday night as he rehabs from a strained oblique muscle.

Using the Minnesota star as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the ninth was a tempting thought, especially in the midst of a pennant race, but orders are orders.

"It would have been nice, wouldn't it?" Jake Mauer said, smiling at the thought at sending his brother up to hit. "It would be like high school. Use him to pitch AND hit.

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