Metro Sports Report

Murphy powers Kernels past Snappers

BELOIT, Wis.  – Cedar Rapids scored six runs in the fourth inning as they defeated the Beloit Snappers 7-2 on Thursday night at Pohlman Field.  Jonathan Murphy drove in four runs in the game as the Kernels won their second-straight contest to begin the road trip.

Beloit took a 2-0 lead in the third inning as Christopher Bostick and Renato Nunez both recorded their 80th run batted in on the season.  However, the Kernels came right back in their next at-bat with the six-run inning to take the lead for good.

The Kernels sent 11 men to the plate in the big fourth inning.  Niko Goodrum started the frame with a walk and came home on Jorge Polanco’s RBI double that went just inside the first base line.  Adam Brett Walker followed with a RBI double just inside the third base line to score Polanco and tie the game 2-2.  After Max Kepler singled and Travis Harrison was hit by a pitch, Joel Licon’s RBI single plated Walker and gave the Kernels a 3-2 lead.

Local players in pro baseball

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Chicago Cubs) - Placed on disabled list June 30 with fractured rib. Expected to return Sept. 1. Season stats: G - 44, Avg. - .295, AB - 112, H - 33, HR - 4, RBI - 15, SB - 1.

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)) - Started in right field Thursday and was 3-for-4 with a home run, double and five RBIs in the Quakes' 11-5 win over Lake Elsinore. Season stats: G - 103, Avg. - .306, AB - 395, H - 121, HR - 25, RBI - 79, SB - 12.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Started at third base Thursday and was 1-for-3 with a run scored in the Lugnuts' 5-4 loss to West Michigan. Season stats: G - 93, Avg. - .178, AB - 297, H - 53, HR - 5, RBI - 22, SB - 0.

ANDREW HANSE (Linn-Mar, Bowling Green (Rays)) - Pitched three innings in relief Thursday and allowed two hits, and one unearned run while striking out three in the Hot Rods' 7-4 loss to Great Lakes. Season stats: W - 1. L - 0. Sv - 0. ERA - 1.29. G - 3. IP - 7. H - 6. BB - 0. SO - 7.

CHAD CHRISTENSEN (Washington, GCL Twins (Twins)) - Did not play Thursday in the Twins' 4-2 win loss to the GCL Orioles. Season stats: G - 31, Avg. - .226, AB - 106, H - 24, HR - 1, RBI - 15, SB - 3.

JON KELLER (Xavier, GCL Orioles (Orioles)) - Did not pitch Thursday in the Orioles' 4-2 win over the GCL Twins. Season stats: W - 0. L - 0. Sv - 0. ERA - 0.00. G - 3. IP - 6. H - 3. BB - 0. SO - 5.

Ryan thinks Jake Mauer could manage Twins

The general manager of the Minnesota Twins thinks Cedar Rapids Kernels skipper Jake Mauer has the right stuff to manage the Twins someday.

Terry Ryan, who began his second stint as Minnesota's G.M. in 2011, has known Mauer since he was a young college player at St. Thomas University 15 years ago and likes what Mauer has accomplished as a manager in the Twins' minor league system the past six years.

Ryan spent time in Cedar Rapids earlier this week, inspecting the Kernels during their series against the Quad Cities River Bandits and getting a feel for the organization.

He's been a big fan of Mauer's for a long time, both as a minor league player in the Minnesota system and now as a skipper. Mauer played pro ball for the Twins for five years (2001-2005), reaching as high as Double-A before an arm injury forced him to retire.

Kernels finally knock off Beloit

BELOIT, Wis. --  The Cedar Rapids Kernels used a five-run fourth inning to beat the Beloit Snappers, 7-4, in a Midwest League game before 1,163 fans at Pohlman Field on Wednesday night.

Cedar Rapids had lost its last six games to the Snappers.

The victory lifted the Kernels into first place in the Western Division, a half-game ahead of the Quad Cities River Bandits.

Niko Goodrum led the Kernels with a three-run homer and four RBIs. He nailed his home run to right field in the fourth inning to cap a five-run outburst in the frame.