Cedar Rapids Kernels Baseball

Christensen hits homer as Kernels split

GENEVA, Ill. - Chad Christensen socked a two-run homer and drove in three runs Sunday as the Cedar Rapids Kernels blanked Kane County, 5-0, in the first game of a Midwest League doubleheader before 6,698 fans at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

Kane County rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh and won the nightcap, 3-2.

Christensen hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning of the opener to give the Kernels (32-42) some insurance runs. He went 2-for-2 in the game with two runs and two walks.

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Kernels rained out, twinbill Sunday

GENEVA, Ill. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels and Kane County Cougars were postponed by rain Saturday night and will play a doubleheader Sunday at 1 p.m. at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

After an off day Monday, the Kernels begin a three-game road trip at Peoria Tuesday. They return to Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium Friday to host the Clinton LumberKings in a four-game series.

Kernels fall 10 games under .500

GENEVA, Ill. - The Kane County Cougars scored two runs in the eighth inning Friday night to snap a 4-4 tie and defeat the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 6-4, before 8,683 fans in a Midwest League game at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

The loss dropped the Kernels 10 games under .500 at 31-41, their low-water mark for the season.

Mitch Garver belted a two-run homer for Cedar Rapids in the first inning for a quick 2-0 lead, but it did not hold up. It was Garver's eighth home run of the season.

Engelb Vielma and Bryan Haar had two hits for the Kernels.

Jacob Hannemann and Kyle Schwarber hit home runs for Kane County (47-25).

The same teams meet Saturday night at 6:30.

KERNELS (4): Granite, cf, 3 0 0 0, Vielma, ss, 3 1 2 0, Christensen, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Garver, c, 3 2 1 2, Haar, 3b, 4 1 2 0, Kanzler, rf, 4 0 1 0, Swim, dh, 3 0 0 1, Murphy, lf, 3 0 1 1, Walker, 2b, 4 0 0 0. Totals 31 4 7 4.

KANE COUNTY (6): Hannemann, cf, 4 1 1 1, Penalver, ss, 3 0 0 0, Schwarber, c, 3 2 2 1, Carhart, 2b, 4 0 2 1, Balaguert, rf, 4 1 2 0, Rogers, 1b, 4 2 2 0, Candelario, 3b, 4 0 1 2, Brockmeyer, dh, 3 0 0 1, Martin, lf, 3 0 2 0. Totals 32 6 12 6.

Kernels          200 002 000 - 4 7 1

Kane County  110 110 02x - 6 12 2

Thorpe, Mazza (5), Bixler (7) and Garver. Paniagua, Hoffner (6), Bremer (9) and Schwarber. W - Hoffner (1-1). L - Bixler (4-4). S - Bremer (9). 2B - Vielma (9), Schwarber (1), Candelario (1). 3B - Rogers (1). HR - Garver (8), Hannemann (4), Schwarber (1). E - Haar (12), Penalver (15), Candelario (1). T - 2:37. A - 8,683.

Kernels fall, 7-0, in 5 innings

GENEVA, Ill. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels began the second half of the Midwest League season with a soggy loss in Illinois Thursday night.

The Kane County Cougars blanked the Kernels, 7-0, before 6,365 fans at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in a game stopped in the bottom of the fifth inning due to rain.

The Kernels (31-40) collected only three singles in the contest.

The game was tied, 0-0, heading into the bottom of the third inning, but the Cougars erupted for seven runs on eight hits against Kernels starter Aaron Slegers (5-4).

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Kernels make 4 roster moves

The Cedar Rapids Kernels and Minnesota Twins announced Thursday that pitcher Dallas Gallant will join the Kernels from Elizabethton, catcher Alex Swim has been assigned to Cedar Rapids from Fort Myers, catcher Michael Quesada has been placed on the 7-day disabled list and pitcher Josue Montanez has been assigned to Elizabethton.

The Twins selected Gallant in the 23rd round of the 2010 draft from Sam Houston State University. He made 14 appearances for the Kernels in 2013 with a 1-0 record, 5.51 ERA and one save. In 16.1 innings, he allowed 13 hits and 11 runs (10 earned) with 13 walks and 28 strikeouts.

The Twins selected Swim in the 22nd round of the 2013 draft from Elon University. He spent 2013 with the GCL Twins where he hit .287 with seven doubles and 12 RBIs in 37 games. He played in one game for Fort Myers this season.

Quesada went on the DL with a right wrist contusion. In 31 games for the Kernels, he is batting .178 with 2 homers and 12 RBIs.

Montanez appeared in 16 games for the Kernels (six starts) with a 1-4 record and 7.89 ERA. In 43.1 innings, he allowed 52 hits and 45 runs (38 earned) with 22 walks and 43 strikeouts.

Gallant and Swim will be active for Thursday night's game at Kane County.

Will St. Paul lure Twins away from C.R.?

In September of 2012, the Minnesota Twins announced a four-year affiliation agreement with the Cedar Rapids Kernels with Twins then-Senior Director of Minor Leagues Jim Rantz telling the media, “We are confident that this relationship will grow into one of the strongest affiliations in minor league baseball.”

Less than two years later, the Twins organization appears to be flirting with another minor league ownership group with a possible eye toward moving their Class A Midwest League affiliation to nearby St. Paul, Minn.

Potentially, that could force the Kernels to shop for another new Major League affiliate when their current Player Development Contract with the Twins expires following the 2016 season.

According to a story Tuesday in the Business Journal, Minnesota Twins President Dave St. Peter and Derek Sharrer, the General Manager of the St. Paul Saints, an independent minor league team, expressed mutual interest in a future affiliation agreement between the two teams.

Their comments were made at the Business Journal’s Business of Sports Power Breakfast Tuesday morning.

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Haar gets hit in MWL all-star game

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. - Bryan Haar of the Cedar Rapids Kernels went 1-for-2 for the West Division All-Stars during their 7-0 victory over the East Division in the Midwest League All-Star Game before 7,046 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark Tuesday night.

Haar, normally a third baseman for Cedar Rapids, entered the game as a reserve at first base.

Kohl Stewart of the Kernels was named to the All-Star team, but did not pitch in the game. He threw four innings for the Kernels Saturday night.

Kernels limp to 31-39 for first half

The Cedar Rapids Kernels ended the first half of their Midwest League season with an all too typical 13-3 loss to Burlington Sunday afternoon before 2,999 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

"I would say so,” Kernels Manager Jake Mauer said. “Our starter doesn’t get through the fourth (inning), we battled back to make it a game, and unfortunately, our bullpen has had a tough go.

"That’s how it's been. Our starters' ERA has been pretty high.”

The Kernels went 31-39 in their first 70 games, placing sixth in the Western Division of the Midwest League, 14 games behind Kane County.

Pitching has been the problem, and Sunday the Bees blasted 19 hits and plated 13 runs.

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All-Star Stewart shines for Kernels

Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher Kohl Stewart tuned up for his upcoming Midwest League All-Star Game appearance with four shutout innings of work in front of 3,765 fans on “Iowa State Night” at Veterans Memorial Stadium, where Cedar Rapids topped the Burlington Bees 7-6 on a walk-off throwing error by Bees pitcher Ben Carlson.

Originally scheduled to start the final game of the first half of the season on Sunday, Stewart had his start moved up a day so he’d be able to pitch in the All-Star Game.

Stewart was the Minnesota Twins’ first round draft choice a year ago and is among the most highly rated players in the Twins organization.

“He’s been on a pitch count all year, so we believed that in order for him to represent the Kernels and represent the Minnesota Twins and enjoy his time in the All-Star Game, he needed to be ready to pitch,” explained pitching coach Ivan Arteaga afterward. “We didn’t feel comfortable having him pitch on one day’s rest.”

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