Metro Sports Report

Kernels bash big leaguer, sweep Rattlers

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. - For two innings, it looked as though Cedar Rapids was going to be overmatched by Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Marco Estrada, who struck out five Kernels hitters and gave up only one hit, a first-inning double by Jorge Polanco.

Estrada, who’s been on the Brewers' disabled list with a hamstring injury, was making a rehabilitation start for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

Estrada recorded only two more outs, however, as the Kernels batted around against the big leaguer in the third inning and built a 6-2 lead they did not relinquish en route to a 13-9 win to sweep the four-game series against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Time Warner Field.

Twins GM Ryan likes Kernels, Buxton

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. - Minnesota Twins General Manager Terry Ryan has been getting his initial first-hand look at the Cedar Rapids Kernels over the past few days as the Kernels have been taking on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

Before Sunday’s game, he took time to share his impressions with the Metro Sports Report and talked about the Twins’ new relationship with Cedar Rapids and, yes, about possible promotions of Byron Buxton and other Kernels. (Buxton was promoted to Fort Myers of the Florida State League following Sunday's game.)

MSR: While you haven’t personally made the trip to Cedar Rapids yet this season, you’ve certainly had reports from others in the organization. How do the Twins feel the relationship with Cedar Rapids is going?

TERRY RYAN: Yeah, I think the people that are involved in this organization that certainly have been to Cedar Rapids are happy with the relationship. You’ve got a good club. We’ve got all the facilities that we were hoping to acquire. I think the reception for our players, not only with the host families, but also the fans and so forth, it’s been almost a match made in heaven for both of us.

Local players in pro baseball

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Chicago Cubs) - Started in center field Sunday and was 3-for-5 with two doubles, a three-run home run and a career-high six RBIs in the Cubs' 14-6 win over the Astros. Season stats: G - 39, Avg. - .309, AB - 94, H - 29, HR - 3, RBI - 13, SB - 0.

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)) - Started in left field Sunday and was 1-for-5 with an RBI in the Quakes' 12-6 loss at Lancaster. Season stats: G - 60, Avg. - .278, AB - 223, H - 62, HR - 10, RBI - 33, SB - 7.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Did not play Sunday in the Lugnuts' 14-8 win at Dayton. Season stats: G - 58, Avg. - .196, AB - 189, H - 37, HR - 3, RBI - 15, SB - 0.

ANDREW HANSE (Linn-Mar, Hudson Valley (Rays)) -  Pitched two innings in relief Sunday and gave up four hits and two runs in the Renegades' 4-3, 13-inning loss at Brooklyn. Season stats: W - 0. L - 0. Sv - 1. ERA - 3.00. G - 3. IP - 6. H - 6. BB - 1. SO - 5.

CHAD CHRISTENSEN (Washington, GCL Twins (Twins)) - The Twins did not play Sunday. Season stats: G - 1, Avg. - .400, AB - 5, H - 2, HR - 0, RBI - 1, SB - 0.

Kernels bang out 18 hits in 8-3 win

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels have come out of the chute hot for the second half of their Midwest League season. The Kernels topped the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 8-3 Saturday night for their third straight win since the All-Star break.

The six Kernels hitters that represented the team in Tuesday’s Midwest League All-Star game did most of the damage against the host Timber Rattlers. Byron Buxton, Niko Goodrum, Jorge Polanco, Dalton Hicks, Travis Harrison and Adam Brett Walker accounted for 15 of the Kernels 18 hits. Every batter in the Kernels’ lineup collected at least one hit.

The Kernels’ All-Stars spent close to eight hours traveling to Dayton on Monday, another eight returning to Cedar Rapids on Wednesday and then another five hours on the bus up to Appleton on Thursday. But if all the travel in the past week has tired them, you wouldn’t know it from their performances in the three wins over the Timber Rattlers.

Hicks pretty much shrugged off the travel. “It was a little rough, but once we get here, we’re good to go,” the big first baseman said following Saturday's win.