Cedar Rapids Kernels Baseball

Kernels drop another to Clinton

CLINTON - The Clinton LumberKings built a 7-0 lead after four innings Saturday night and defeated the Kernels for the second straight time, 7-4, before 1,576 fans at Ashford University Field.

The Kernels will try to avoid a three-game sweep when they face Clinton Sunday at 2 p.m. as the first half of the Midwest League season comes to an end.

Sam Gibbons (1-2) had a rough start for Cedar Rapids. He was touched for eight hits and seven runs (six earned) in four innings. Miles Nordgren and Michael Theofanopoulos combined for four shutout innings in relief, but the Kernels could not recover from the 7-0 deficit.

Catcher Brian Navarreto went 3-for-4 for the Kernels. Shortstop Nick Gordon was 2-for-4. Max Murphy hit his third home run. Tanner English collected his 20th stolen base of the season.

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Kernels drop opener at Clinton

CLINTON - Despite scoring first Friday night and out-hitting the LumberKings, the Cedar Rapids Kernels fell to Clinton, 4-1, in the series opener before 2,012 fans at Ashford University Field.

Cedar Rapids (40-28) struck first with a two-out run in the top of the third. Rafael Valera got the inning started with a one-out walk. Edgar Corcino followed with a single to center, giving the Kernels runners on first and second.

Two batters later, Zack Larson put the Kernels up 1-0 with an RBI single to center, bringing in Valera from second. The RBI for Larson was his team-leading 35th.

Clinton (25-42) countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, going in front 2-1. Arby Fields drew a leadoff walk to start the inning before Wayne Taylor gave the LumberKings their first hit with a single through the right side.

Two batters later, Estarlyn Morales reached on a fielder's choice, but a Kernels throwing error on the double play attempt allowed Fields to score from second.

Morales swiped second, his team-leading 12th of the year. Chantz Mack drove in Morales with an RBI single to center.

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Kernels waste strong game by Steele

They don't have instant replay in Midwest League games, so there was nothing the Cedar Rapids Kernels could do about a bum call in the 11th inning Thursday.

It helped cost them the game.

The Burlington Bees blanked the Kernels, 2-0, in 11 innings before a season-high crowd of 4,173 fans on Fireworks Night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Keaton Steele became the first Kernels pitcher this year to toss nine innings, but he left with the score tied 0-0 and did not get a decision for his fine work.

"Outstanding. He was fantastic," said manager Jake Mauer.

Steele was a spectator when the bad call hurt the Kernels in the top of the 11th inning. Burlington shortstop Jake Yacinich was called safe at first on a sacrifice bunt when the field umpire ruled that Kernels first baseman Jorge Fernandez did not get his foot on the bag in time after he fielded a wide throw by pitcher Michael Theofanopoulos.

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Mildren stars in return to Kernels

Ethan Mildren made 13 starts for the Cedar Rapids Kernels a year ago before earning a promotion to Class High-A Fort Myers in July. On Wednesday, Mildren found himself back on the mound for the Kernels after coming off the Disabled List for Fort Myers and being assigned to Cedar Rapids earlier in the day.

On the mound, he looked like a man intent on making his stay in Cedar Rapids a short one.

In his return to Veterans Memorial Stadium, the tall right-hander struck out eight Burlington Bees and surrendered just two hits in 5 2/3 innings of shutout work as Cedar Rapids topped the Burlington Bees, 2-0, before 2,811 fans.

Mildren, who had struggled this season to a record of 1-4 with a 5.45 ERA for Fort Myers before hitting the Disabled List in late May with a left hamstring issue, said he was not disappointed to get the word he was headed back here.

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Mildren replaces Rodriguez on Kernels

The Cedar Rapids Kernels and Minnesota Twins announced Wednesday that pitcher Ethan Mildren has been activated from the 7-day Disabled List at Fort Myers and been assigned to the Kernels.

Pitcher Dereck Rodriguez has left the Kernels and has been assigned to Elizabethton in the Appalachian League.

The Twins selected Mildren in the 12th round of the 2013 draft from the University of Pittsburgh. He split time last season between the Kernels and Fort Myers.

Mildren had a 1-4 record and 5.45 ERA at Fort Myers this season and has not pitched since May 27. He is scheduled to start Wednesday night's game against Burlington at the stadium.

Rodriguez made two starts for the Kernels, posting a 0-1 record and 9.00 ERA.

Kernels clinch with Mauer's 200th win

Jake Mauer admitted after his Cedar Rapids Kernels defeated Burlington, 2-1, that he did not know about either bit of information passed his way as he sat in his office Tuesday night.

When told the win over the Bees was his 200th as the Kernels' manager, his comment was simply, "Really? To win it like that is pretty fun."

Then he was told the win also secured a playoff berth for the team. His comment: "Are you sure?"

Once assured the playoff spot was secured, Mauer joined the player celebration in the clubhouse that spilled into the shower room and resulted in players and coaches alike coming out soaking wet.

Cedar Rapids (39-26) sent a crowd of 3,070 home from Veterans Memorial Stadium happy after a gritty effort resulted in a comeback win.

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Navarreto is big catch for Kernels

One of the top Major League prospects on the Cedar Rapids Kernels is hitting just .180 for the season, but Brian Navarreto has superior skills for a young catcher.

Kernels Manager Jake Mauer predicted Monday that Navarreto will play for the Minnesota Twins some day.

"He'll catch in the big leagues," Mauer said without hesitation. "His bat will determine how long he's going to be there."

Navarreto went 1-for-2 with two walks Monday afternoon in an 8-2 loss to Lansing before 2,980 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium, giving him a six-game hitting streak and raising his average all the way from .119 to .180.

He's gone 8-for-16 in the last six games and is starting to spray line drives around the ballpark.

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Real is happy to be helping Kernels

Cedar Rapids Kernels catcher Alex Real says he made an innocent mistake when he used a banned substance last year and was suspended for 50 games at the start of the 2015 season.

The substance - methylhexaneamine - was originally developed as a nasal decongestant, but it's also believed to increase focus and energy and has been been banned for all minor leaguers, partially because one of the side effects is a stroke.

Real admits the mistake, but says he's not sure how it got in his body.

"I don't know where it came from," he said Sunday after helping the Kernels defeat Lansing, 8-3, at Veterans Memorial Stadium. "It probably came from the fat-burner or the allergy medicine, because I was taking allergy medicine the week prior."

Real (pronounced Ray-al) said he was not looking for a physical edge.

"I was trying to be clean and put in the hard work, especially with the drug testing being so strict," he said. "You really have to be careful and I learned my lesson."

Real was allowed to practice and work out at the Minnesota Twins facility in Fort Myers, Fla., during the 50-game suspension and could play in exhibition games.

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Buxton makes major league debut

ARLINGTON, Texas - Byron Buxton, who played with the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2013, made his major league debut Sunday, starting in center field for the Minnesota Twins against the Texas Rangers.

Buxton, who batted ninth, went 0-for-4 in his debut, but scored the winning run in the top of the ninth innings as the Twins won, 4-3, ending a five-game losing stgreak.

After reaching on a fielder's choice in the ninth, Buxton came around to score the winning run on Eddie Rosario's double to center.

In 59 games for Class AA Chattanooga this season, Buxton hit .283 with 12 triples, and scored 44 runs. He also had 37 RBIs, 20 stolen bases and six home runs.