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Dayton pitcher Tony Amezcua (right) is examined by trainer Tyler Steele after getting hit by a ball lined off the bat of the Kernels' Dalton Hicks in the sixth inning of Thursday's Midwest League baseball game at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Amezcua received a glancing blow off of his nose and the side of his face and the ball caromed into center field. He left the game and said he was OK afterward. (Photo by Margaret O'Banion)

Dayton pitcher escapes serious injury

Thu - 11 Jul Written by Jim Ecker

Dayton relief pitcher Tony Amezcua paid a scary price for his victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels Thursday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

A screaming line drive by Kernels slugger Dalton Hicks struck Amezcua in the nose and the right side of his face in the sixth inning of Dayton's 13-9 victory, knocking Amezcua to the ground as teammates and the Dayton trainer rushed to his side.

Fortunately for Amezcua, it was a glancing blow and did not him squarely. But the ball was hit so hard that it ended up in center field as Hicks got a single.

"I didn't see it off the bat," said Amezcua. "I kind of turned at the last second. It got me on my nose."

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Local players in pro baseball

Thu - 11 Jul Written by Metro Sports Report

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Chicago Cubs) - Placed on disabled list June 30 with fractured rib. Expected to miss at least six weeks. 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 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in the Quakes' 6-3 loss to High Desert. Season stats: G - 78, Avg. - .311, AB - 296, H - 92, HR - 17, RBI - 54, SB - 9.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Started at third base Thursday and was 0-for-4 in the Lugnuts' 10-3 loss to Peoria. Season stats: G - 72, Avg. - .177, AB - 232, H - 41, HR - 3, RBI - 15, SB - 0.

ANDREW HANSE (Linn-Mar, Hudson Valley (Rays)) - Pitched one inning Thursday and allowed three hits and two runs in the Renegades' 5-2 loss to Jamestown. Season stats: W - 1. L - 1. Sv - 1. ERA - 5.54. G - 8. IP - 13. H - 12. BB - 6. SO - 10.

CHAD CHRISTENSEN (Washington, GCL Twins (Twins)) - Started at third base Thursday and was 1-for-3 with a run scored in the Twins' 6-2 win over the GCL Orioles. Season stats: G - 12, Avg. - .286, AB - 42, H - 12, HR - 0, RBI - 6, SB - 0.

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Marion pitcher Levi Lochner (26) throws during the first game of a doubleheader with Western Dubuque on Wednesday. Marion won the first game, 1-0, but Western Dubuque won the second, 3-2. (Photo by Ken Gilchrist)

Lochner tosses shutout for his grandpa

Wed - 10 Jul Written by Jim Ecker

Senior Night had special meaning for Marion High School southpaw Levi Lochner on Wednesday with his grandfather in the stands for the first time this season.

Don Lochner has been battling medical issues, but he made it to the ballpark and saw his grandson toss a three-hit shutout as the Indians blanked Western Dubuque, 1-0, in the first game of a Wamac Conference doubleheader.

Western Dubuque won the nightcap, 3-2.

Lochner was happy to put on a good performance for his grandfather.

"He's been in and out of hospice and nursing homes and stuff, so it was nice to have him up here for a game," said Lochner. "He always likes watching the team and everybody. I know he was happy to get out here."

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Michael Quesada of the Cedar Rapids Kernels slides home on a hit by J.D. Williams during the Kernels' game against the Dayton Dragons on Wednesday night. Dayton won, 12-6. (Photo by Margaret O'Banion)

Fire-breathing Dragons burn Kernels, 12-6

Wed - 10 Jul Written by S.D. Buhr

It took the visiting Dayton Dragons all of four batters Wednesday night to jump out to a 4-0 lead over the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

The first three Dragon hitters singled against Kernels starting pitcher Christian Powell and the fourth hitter, Jesse Winker, cleared the bases with a grand slam before Powell and the Kernels could record an out.

The Dragons didn’t stop there, either, as they went on to defeat the Kernels, 12-6, in front of a disappointed crowd of 2,009 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Powell left the game after completing just three innings, having given up six runs (all earned) on nine hits. He also walked three Dayton hitters.

“Just a very ugly day, all the way around,” is how Kernels Manager Jake Mauer described his team’s pitching performance.

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Gruver is big relief for Kernels

Wed - 10 Jul Written by S.D. Buhr

It's the top of the seventh inning and his team is leading by two runs. There are two outs, but the bases are loaded with opposing baserunners.

It's the kind of situation the best relief pitchers almost seem to relish as they trot in from the bullpen.

Lefty Steve Gruver and right-hander Tyler Jones have been among the most reliable bullpen arms in the Midwest League this season and have presented a formidable lefty-righty combination in the Kernels bullpen.

Gruver was one of eight Kernels named to the Midwest League All-Star Game in June, and last Friday night it was Gruver who entered the game with two outs and the bases loaded, determined to protect a two-run Kernels lead.

Gruver would like to forget the moments that followed, as Tyrone Taylor launched a grand slam on a pitch that found its way too close to the middle of the plate and put the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers ahead, 8-6.

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Today's Line-up

Metro Sports Report

Dayton pitcher escapes serious injury

Local players in pro baseball

Lochner tosses shutout for his grandpa

Fire-breathing Dragons burn Kernels, 12-6

Gruver is big relief for Kernels

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