Cedar Rapids Kernels Baseball

Wisconsin sinks Kernels with 4 homers

APPLETON, Wis. - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers socked four home runs Thursday night and dumped the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 11-7, in a Midwest League game before 2,944 fans at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wis.

Kernels starter Felix Jorge (2-3) was touched for eight runs in 3.2 innings before yielding to Alex Muren, who allowed three runs in 2.1 innings. Brandon Bixler tossed two shutout innings at the end for the Kernels, but by then it was too late.

Jason Kanzler went 3-for-5, scored three runs and hit his second home run for Cedar Rapids. J.D. Williams and Engelb Vielma had two hits.

Cedar Rapids (18-15) and Wisconsin (15-18) meet again Friday night at 6:35.

The Kernels have lost three games in a row.

Kernels       022 003 000 -  7 10 1
Wisconsin   032 411 00x - 11 13 1

W - Seidenberger (2-0). L- Jorge (2-3).

Wade hurt as Kernels fall to QC

DAVENPORT - The Cedar Rapids Kernels lost a ballgame and lost another ballplayer Wednesday night.

Second baseman Logan Wade dislocated his left shoulder when he dove for a ground-ball single in the second inning. He landed awkwardly and left the game in pain.

The Kernels lost to the Quad Cities River Bandits, 7-3, in a Midwest League game before 1,182 fans at Modern Woodmen Park.

"It's dislocated," Kernels Manager Jake Mauer said after the game. "No broken bones, but they couldn't pop it back in. They had to put him under.

"He's still at the hospital. They'll put it in a sling and he'll see our doctor tomorrow."

Assuming Wade is placed on the Disabled List, he'll become the sixth Kernel on the DL after just 32 games of the season. Pitcher Randy Rosario, catcher Michael Quesada, second baseman Tanner Vavra, outfielder Zack Granite and outfielder Jeremias Pineda are currently on the Disabled List.

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Slegers standing tall for Kernels

The Cedar Rapids Kernels brought a highly heralded group of pitchers north out of spring training. The opening-day pitching staff was littered with highly rated prospects obtained with high draft picks and big-money international free agency signings.

Even among top prospects, however, you’re never sure what kind of start you’ll get in a Midwest League season. Some of these pitchers are still teenagers. Some are a long way away from home for the first time.

Some have seldom, if ever, pitched in front of a sizable crowd. Some have never experienced the kind of bone-chilling spring weather that is commonplace in Cedar Rapids and other MWL locations.

Any of those factors can cause a pitcher to get off to a slow start, but if you can find a guy who’s already spent a few years away from home, matured as a pitcher, pitched in high-pressure situations and is no stranger to cold weather, he just might have a chance to impress early.

But where could you possibly find such a pitcher? Maybe a guy who's spent the last three years away from home at college, pitching in front of big crowds in big games, and regularly played in cold weather during his college years.

Meet Kernels starting pitcher Aaron Slegers.

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Kernels add Penilla to roster

The Cedar Rapids Kernels and Minnesota Twins announced Wednesday that left-handed pitcher Derrick Penilla has joined the Kernels from Extended Spring Training. Brad Steil, Director of Minor League Operations for the Twins, announced the move.

The Twins selected Penilla in the 15th round of the 2013 First Year Player Draft from Mount San Antonio Junior College. He pitched in 14 games (one start) with the GCL Twins last season and posted a 1-2 record, 5.40 ERA and three saves. In 13.1 innings, he allowed 19 hits and 11 runs (eight earned) with seven walks and 13 strikeouts.

Penilla is active and available for Wednesday night's game at Quad Cities. With Wednesday's transaction, the Kernels' roster is at the maximum of 25, with five players currently on the Disabled List and one player on the Restricted List.

Kernels knock off Bandits, 5-2

DAVENPORT - The Cedar Rapids Kernels scored three runs in the eighth inning to snap a 2-2 tie Monday night and defeat the Quad Cities River Bandits, 5-2, in a Midwest League game before 1,343 fans at Modern Woodmen Park.

Logan Wade, Zach Larson and Engelb Vielma collected two hits for the Kernels, who won for the third straight time. Zach Larson and Bryan Santy had two RBIs.

Starting pitcher Ethan Mildren began the game with four scoreless innings, extending the staff's streak of unblemished innings to 27 straight before the Bandits scored in the fifth.

Mildren left with the score tied, 2-2, after six innings. Brandon Bixler (2-1) tossed two scoreless frames and got the victory. Hudson Boyd pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the ninth for his fifth save.

Cedar Rapids (18-12) and Quad Cities (12-18) meet again Tuesday at 11 a.m.

KERNELS (5): Williams, cf, 4 0 0 0, Wade, 2b, 5 1 2 0, Christensen, 1b, 5 0 1 0, Garver, c, 4 0 0 0, Larson, rf, 4 1 2 2, Thomas, lf, 2 1 1 0, Haar, 3b, 5 1 0 0, Santy, dh, 4 0 1 2, Vielma, ss, 3 1 2 1. Totals 36 5 9 5.

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

Kernels       002 000 030 - 5 9 1 
Quad Cities   000 011 000 - 2 4 4

Mildren, Bixler (7), Boyd (9) and Garver. Thurman, Lee (6), Walter (9) and Holberton. W - Bixler (2-1). L - Lee (0-1). S - Boyd (5). 2B - Wade (8), Santy (1). HR - McDonald (1). SB - Vielma (3), Larson (4). E - Wade (6), Holbertson (2), Mayfield 2 (5), Lee (1). T - 2:43. A - 1,343.

Peterson promoted to Fort Myers

Cedar Rapids Kernels relief pitcher Brandon Peterson has been promoted to the Fort Myers Miracle in the Florida State League, the team announced Monday.

Peterson is the first Kernels player to be promoted to Fort Myers this season.

Peterson, from Minnesota, pitched at DMACC and Wichita State during his college career and quickly became one of the top relief pitchers in the Midwest League. He appeared in nine games for the Kernels, going 1-0 with a 0.71 ERA.

Peterson was 3-for-3 in save opportunities and allowed only one run in 12.2 innings. He struck out 19 batters and walked only two.

Metro Players In Pro Baseball

The Metro Sports Report is providing a daily update for all the Metro graduates who are playing pro baseball this season. Here is the report through Saturday, May 10:

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier), Chicago Cubs, OF: Sweeney is on the 15-Day Disabled List with a strained hamstring in his right leg. He is hitting .200 (11 for 55) with 6 RBIs.

SCOTT SCHEBLER (CR Prairie), Chattanooga, OF, Double-A, Southern League (Dodgers): Schebler went 2-for-4 Saturday with an RBI. He is hitting .264 (32 for 121) with six homers and 21 RBIs.

KELLEN SWEENEY (CR Jefferson), Dunedin, IF, Advanced A, Florida State League (Blue Jays): Sweeney is on the Disabled List and has not played this season. He practices and travels with the team, but is not on the active roster.

CHAD CHRISTENSEN (CR Washington), Kernels, OF/IF, Class A, Midwest League (Twins): Christensen went 1-for-2 Saturday with a double and two walks. He scored two runs and had a stolen base. Christensen is hitting .280 (30 for 107) with 17 runs, six doubles, two triples, 11 RBIs and 9 stolen bases.

JON KELLER (Xavier), Delmarva, P, Class A, South Atlantic League (Orioles): Keller (0-0, 3.00, 1 save) did not pitch Saturday.

ANDREW HANSE (Linn-Mar), Bowling Green, P, Class A, Midwest League (Tampa Bay): Hanse (0-2, 5.17) did not pitch Saturday.

DAKOTA FREESE (Washington), Arizona Athletics, P, Rookie Arizona League (Oakland): The Arizona Athletics have not begun their season.

Kernels blank Peoria again, 2-0

The Cedar Rapids Kernels wrapped up their homestand with another pitching gem Sunday as starting pitcher Ryan Eades (3-3) combined with his bullpen to shut out the Peoria Chiefs, 2-0, in front of 1,437 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Since giving up seven runs in a disastrous fourth inning in Thursday night’s loss to the Chiefs, Kernels pitchers have combined to toss 23 straight shutout innings.

Eades, the Minnesota Twins’ second-round draft pick in 2013, struck out five Chiefs batters in his five innings of work, giving up just three singles, but he worked from behind in the count much of the day and gave up a pair of walks.

“Eades didn’t have his best today,” Kernels Manager Jake Mauer observed. “He had a lot of three-ball counts. He spent a lot of pitches, but to his credit, he still was able to go five innings scoreless.

“He showed something today as far as being a starter. He takes responsibility. He gave us five scoreless and turned it over to the bullpen.”

And what a job that bullpen did. Yorman Landa and Hudson Boyd faced the minimum 12 batters over their four innings of combined work.

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Slegers sparkles as Kernels roll

The 2,899 fans who showed up for the game at Veterans Memorial Stadium Saturday saw a familiar face in left field for the locals as outfielder J.D. Williams, who played 80 games with Cedar Rapids before being promoted to the Fort Myers Miracle last season, has rejoined the club from extended spring training.

Williams made his presence felt early Saturday night, driving in Engelb Vielma with the Kernels’ first run of the night with a double to left field in the third inning.

The Kernels went on to top the visiting Peoria Chiefs, 3-0, tying the current series at one game each.

Aaron Slegers (3-0) turned in a second straight top-of-the-line performance on the mound for Cedar Rapids, throwing seven innings of shutout ball. He struck out six Peoria hitters, while surrendering just four hits and a pair of walks.

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