Cedar Rapids Kernels Baseball

Mazza joins Kernels; Landa goes on DL

The Cedar Rapids Kernels and Minnesota Twins announced Sunday that right-handed pitcher Chris Mazza has joined the Kernels from Extended Spring Training and that pitcher Yorman Landa has been placed on the 7-day Disabled List, retroactive to May 23.

Brad Steil, Director of Minor League Operations for the Twins, announced the moves.

The Twins selected Mazza in the 27th round of the 2011 draft from Mento (Calif.) College. He spent last season at Cedar Rapids, appearing in seven games with no record, a 6.23 ERA and two saves.

In 8.2 innings, he allowed 12 hits and six runs (all earned) with three walks and 10 strikeouts.

Landa went on the DL with a right shoulder impingement. In 13 relief appearances for the Kernels he has posted a 3-1 record, 2.88 ERA and two saves. In 25 innings, he has allowed 18 hits and nine runs (eight earned) with 13 walks and 30 strikeouts.

Bandits bump off Kernels again

DAVENPORT - The Quad Cities River Bandits hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning to come from behind and down the Kernels, 5-2, before 5,494 fans at Modern Woodmen Park Saturday night.

The Kernels (22-27) have lost four straight games and are five games below the .500 mark for the first time this season.

Cedar Rapids led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, but the River Bandits (24-23) tallied four runs for a 5-2 lead.

With two on and one away, Conrad Gregor drilled a three-run home run to right-center to put Quad Cities in front 4-2. It was Gregor's first home run of the season and scored Jack Mayfield and Brett Phillips.

Tyler White, the next batter, hit a towering home run that got over the wall in left field to extend the River Bandits' lead to 5-2. It was White's second blast of the season.

Ethan Mildren (0-3) took the loss for the Kernels. He went 5 1/3 innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits while striking out one and walking two. Mildren sailed through the first five innings, allowing just one unearned run on two hits, before running into trouble in the sixth inning.

The Kernels scored their two runs in the second inning to take a 2-1 lead. Jason Kanzler singled into center and Bo Altobelli was hit by a pitch.

A ground out moved both into scoring position and allowed Kanzler to score on an infield single by Engelb Vielma. Ryan Walker's RBI ground out brought in Altobelli and gave the Kernels the lead.

Brandon Bixler went 1 2/3 innings in relief for the Kernels, allowing no runs on one hit. He struck out one and walked none. Hudson Boyd added a 1-2-3 eighth inning with a pop out and two ground outs.

The Kernels travel to Beloit, opening a three-game series at Pohlman Field Sunday at 4 p.m. Josue Montanez (1-2, 8.13) gets the start for the Kernels.

KERNELS (2): Walker, ss, 4 0 2 1, Licon, lf, 4 0 1 0, Christensen, rf, 3 0 1 0, Garver, dh, 3 0 0 0, Haar, 3b, 4 0 0 0, Kanzler, cf, 4 1 2 0, Altobelli, 1b, 3 1 1 0, Quesada, c, 4 0 0 0, Vielma, 2b, 3 0 1 1. Totals: 32 2 8 2.

QUAD CITIES (5): Ramsay, rf, 3 1 1 0, Mayfield, 2b, 4 1 1 0, Phillips, cf, 3 1 0 0, Gregor, 1b, 4 1 1 3, White, 3b, 4 1 1 1, Holberton, c, 3 0 1 0, Mitchell, lf, 3 0 1 0, Lindauer, ss, 3 0 0 0, Kemmer, dh, 3 0 0 0. Totals: 30 5 6 4.

Kernels       020 000 000 - 2 8 1
Quad Cities  100 004 00x - 5 6 0

Mildren, Bixler (6), Boyd (8) and Quesada. Gustave, Walter (7) and Holberton. W - Gustave (4-2). L - Mildren (0-3). S - Walter (4). 2B - Holberton (10). HR - Gregor (1), White (2). SB - Christensen (12), Vielma 2 (5). E - Mildren (1). T - 2:25. A - 5,494.

River Bandits belt Kernels again

DAVENPORT - The Quad Cities River Bandits feasted on the Kernels again Friday night.

The River Bandits scored nine runs against Kernels starter Ryan Eades in just 3 2/3 innings and coasted to a 9-0 victory before 4,296 fans at Modern Woodmen Park.

The Bandits (23-23) belted the Kernels Thursday night, 11-6, and have scored 20 runs against Cedar Rapids in two games.

Eades (3-6, 6.12 ERA) allowed 10 hits and four walks in his brief outing.

The Kernels (22-26) collected only three hits in the game.

KERNELS (0): Walker, ss, 4 0 0 0, Vielma, 2b, 3 0 0 0, Christensen, lf, 4 0 0 0, Garver, dh, 4 0 1 0, Kanzler, cf, 4 0 1 0, Haar, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Licon, 3b, 2 0 1 0, Quesada, c, 2 0 0 0. Totals 31 0 3 0.

QUAD CITIES (9): Ramsay, cf, 3 1 2 0, Moon, 2b, 4 1 1 0, Phillips, rf, 4 2 3 4, Kemmer, 1b, 4 1 1 0, Mayfield, 3b, 5 1 1 1, Holberton, c, 3 1 2 3, Mitchell, lf, 4 0 1 1, Rodriguez, dh, 4 0 0 0, Lindauer, ss, 4 2 2 0. Totals 35 9 13 9.

Kernels        000 000 000 - 0   3 0
Quad Cities   005 400 00x - 9 13 1

Eades, Muren (4), Van Steensel (7) and Quesada. Feliz, Christensen (5),Cotton (8) and Holberton. W - Christensen (2-1). L - Eades (3-6). 2B - Kanzler (4), Lindauer 2 (5), Holberton (9), Mayfield (9), Phillips (7). HR - Phillips (3). SB - Licon (2). E - Lindauer (4). T - 2:44. A - 4,296.

Kernels dumped by River Bandits, 11-6

DAVENPORT - The Quad Cities River Bandits belted Aaron Slegers and the Cedar Rapids Kernels Thursday night, 11-6, before 4,387 fans at Modern Woodmen Park.

Slegers (4-2) has been an effective pitcher for the Kernels much of the season, but the Bandits had a field day against the 6-foot-10 right-hander with 13 hits and 10 runs (nine earned) in just three rough innings.

Slegers saw his earned run average climb to 5.19. The River Bandits scored six runs against Slegers in the third inning.

Mitch Garver, Bryan Haar and Jason Kanzler had two hits for Cedar Rapids (22-25). Garver drove in two runs. Kanzler hit a solo home run.

KERNELS (6): Walker, ss, 5 0 1 1, Vavra, 2b, 4 1 0 0, Christensen, 1b, 5 1 1 0, Garver, dh, 4 1 2 2, Haar, 3b, 4 1 2 1, Williams, lf, 3 0 0 0, Kanzler, cf, 4 2 2 1, Quesada, c, 3 0 0 0, Thomas, rf, 3 0 0 0. Totals 35 6 8 5.

QUAD CITIES (11): Ramsay, cf, 5 1 2 0, Moon, 2b, 5 2 2 1, Phillips, rf, 3 2 1 1, Gregor, 1b, 5 1 2 3, White, 3b, 3 3 2 1, Holberton, dh, 4 1 2 0, Mitchell, lf, 3 1 1 4, Rodriguez, c, 3 0 1 0, Lindauer, ss, 4 0 1 1. Totals 35 11 14 11.

Kernels       012 011 010 - 6 8 1
Quad Cities   016 300 10x - 11 14 1

Slegers, Wilson (4), Landa (7) and Quesada. Lee, Thurman (6), Tiburcio (9) and Rodriguez. W - Lee (2-2). L - Slagers (4-2). 2B - Garver (12), Haar (8), Gregor (13), White (8), Ramsay (13), Moon (5). 3B - Phillips (7). HR - Kanzler (4), Mitchell (3). SB - Moon (18), Phillips (7). E - Slegers (2), Lindauer (3). T - 2:55. A - 4,387.

Cutting players is Mauer's toughest job

Cedar Rapids Kernels Manager Jake Mauer has learned to live with losses like Wednesday night's 9-4 setback to the Beloit Snappers, but it's what happened the day before that gave him a sleepless night.

Mauer had to tell catcher Bryan "BK" Santy and infielder Carlos Avila after Tuesday night's game that the Minnesota Twins organization had decided to give them their outright release from baseball.

Mauer has delivered bad news like that behind closed doors before, but that doesn't make it any easier.

"It's the worst part of the job, by far," he said after Wednesday's loss in the series finale before 1,886 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium. "Santy and Avila played hard for us. They worked hard and did everything you asked. Sometimes it turns into a numbers game."

Santy, 23, joined the club April 18 after catcher Michael Quesada got hurt. Avila, 24, was summoned to Cedar Rapids May 14 as a replacement player.

The guys they replaced are healthy now, and the Kernels needed room on their roster when they decided to activate Jason Kanzler and Engelb Vielma from the Disabled List Wednesday.

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Kernels make 4 roster moves

The Cedar Rapids Kernels and Minnesota Twins announced Wednesday that outfielder Jason Kanzler and infielder Engelb Vielma have been activated from the 7-day disabled list and that infielder Carlos Avila and catcher B.K. Santy have been given their unconditional release.

Brad Steil, Director of Minor League Operations for the Twins, announced the moves.

Vielma (hamstring) and Kanzler (concussion) both went on the DL May 14.

Santy played in 15 games for the Kernels, batting .204 with two homers and nine RBIs. Avila played in three games, batting .333 with a double and two

RBIs.

Christensen slugs 2 homers for Kernels

It was Chad Christensen Night at the ballpark Monday, but the Cedar Rapids Kernels did not give away any bobblehead dolls in honor of their native son.

Not yet, anyway.

Christensen belted two home runs, drove in four runs and went 4-for-4 as the Kernels clipped Beloit, 6-3, in a Midwest League game before 1,241 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Christensen did not hit any homers in his first 35 games with the Kernels heading into Monday's game, covering 150 plate appearances and 136 official at-bats. Then he smacked two homers in his first two at-bats Monday to left field.

"I just got some good pitches over the plate," he said modestly. "I tried to be be aggressive with them and the ball got out of the yard a few times.

"It was good," he said. "It was quite a long time without hitting one. I just have to keep trying to have good at-bats."

Christensen's parents, Tracy and Dick, were in the stands Monday. So was his younger brother Drew. Christensen figured they'd celebrate his big night by going out for some food after the game, although Drew (an eighth grader) has school on Tuesday.

Christensen's first home run hooked around the foul pole in left field. Josh Root, the home-plate umpire, initially called it foul, but Kernels Manager Jake Mauer appealed the ruling. Root met with Kirk Struble, the base umpire, and Struble convinced Root to change his mind and rule it a two-run homer.

Christensen stopped at second base and had walked halfway back to home plate before the umpires had their meeting in the middle of the field.

When it was ruled a homer, Christensen went back to second base and finished his trip around the bases.

"I thought it was for-sure fair," said Christensen. "Jake thought it was for-sure fair. I'm glad they got it right. That can be a tough call when it's that close."

Christensen socked another two-run homer in the third inning to snap a 3-3 tie and give the Kernels a 5-3 edge. Shortstop Ryan Walker, who went 4-for-5, was on base for both of Christensen's round-trippers.

Christensen raised his batting average 21 points from .279 to an even .300 with his performance. He singled in the fifth inning, when to second base on a balk and score on Bryan Haar's RBI single. He singled again in the seventh and stole second base (his team-leading 10th steal of the year).

Christensen, one of the most versatile guys on the team, played center field again Monday due to injuries to the regular center fielders (Zack Granite and Jason Kanzler, both on the disabled list). Christensen also has played left field, right field and first base this season and is capable of playing third base, shortstop and second base.

He said he likes the view from center field.

"I love center field," said Christensen, who was an all-state shortstop at Cedar Rapids Washington as well as an all-Big Ten shortstop and all-Big Ten outfielder at Nebraska. "I've always wanted to get out there real bad. It won't be permanent or anything."

Christensen played the corner outfield spots at Nebraska as a senior, but he runs well and has acquitted himself nicely in center field for the Kernels.

Josue Montanez (1-2) allowed three runs in five innings for the Kernels and got his first victory of the season. Yorman Landa and Hudson Boyd both tossed two scoreless innings in relief, with Boyd collecting his sixth save.

The Kernels (21-23) have won two straight games after losing eight in a row. They'll host Beloit (19-24) again Tuesday at 12:05 p.m. in a special noon game.

BELOIT (3): Powell, cf, 5 0 1 0, Mercedes, ss, 4 1 1 0, Brugman, lf, 4 0 2 0, Marincov, rf, 4 1 2 2, Vollmuth, 1b, 3 0 0 0, Baez, 3b, 5 0 0 0, Mathews, dh, 4 1 1 0, Roberts, 2b, 3 0 1 0, Chavez, c, 4 0 1 1. Totals 36 3 9 3.

KERNELS (6): Walker, ss, 5 2 4 1, Vavra, 2b, 5 0 0 0, Christensen, cf, 4 3 4 4, Garver, dh, 2 0 1 0, Williams, lf, 4 0 0 0, Haar, 3b, 4 0 2 1, Altobelli, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Quesada, c, 4 0 0 0, Thomas, rf, 3 1 1 0. Totals 35 6 12 6.

Beloit    012 000 000 - 3 9 0
Kernels   203 010 00x - 6 12 1

Herrera, Vail (6), Pudenz (7), Hollstegge (8) and Chavez. Montanez, Landa (6), Boyd (8) and Quesada. W - Montanez (1-2). L - Herrera (2-4). S - Boyd (6). 2B - Roberts (4), Mathews (7), Chavez (1), Thomas (1), Haar (7). 3B - Walker (1). HR - Christensen 2 (2). SB - Christensen (10). E - Haar (7). T - 2:59. A - 1,241.

Kernels snap 8-game losing streak

BURLINGTON - The Cedar Rapids Kernels came from behind to edge past Burlington, 7-6, Sunday afternoon before 1,866 fans at Community Field, snapping an eight-game losing streak.

The Kernels trailed by four runs after three innings, but rallied to tie the game in the sixth inning before moving ahead in the ninth.

Cedar Rapids scored twice in the top of the ninth to break a 5-5 tie and take a 7-5 lead.

J.D. Williams started the inning by doubling to deep left-center. Chad Christensen's RBI single through the right side of the infield put the Kernels in front as Williams scored on a close play at the dish. Christensen later scored on a sacrifice fly by Bryan Haar.

Burlington trimmed the Kernels' lead to 7-6 in the bottom of the ninth inning with a solo home run by Kody Eaves, but that was all they could push across in the final frame as the Kernels held on for the win. Todd Van Steensel was credited with his first save as he pitched the final inning for the Kernels.

Derrick Penilla (1-1) picked up the win for Cedar Rapids. He was terrific in relief, going three scoreless innings. He allowed only one hit while striking out four and walking none.

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Slumping Kernels drop 7th straight

BURLINGTON - These are hard times for the struggling Cedar Rapids Kernels.

The Kernels collected only five hits Friday night and were beaten by the Burlington Bees, 8-2, for their seventh loss in a row before 427 fans at Community Field.

Cedar Rapids had an 18-12 record less than two weeks ago, but the Kernels have fallen to a 19-22 mark with 10 losses in their last 11 outings.

Michael Quesada hit a solo home run for Cedar Rapids.

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