Cedar Rapids Kernels Baseball

Kernels host Peoria in twinbill May 12

The Cedar Rapids Kernels' game with Peoria that was postponed April 24 in Peoria will be made up in Cedar Rapids on Monday, May 12 as part of a doubleheader, consisting of two 7-inning games at 5:05 p.m.

The games are being made up in Cedar Rapids because the Kernels do not play the Chiefs at Dozer Field in Peoria again in the first half of the Midwest League season. The Kernels will be the home team for both of the 7-inning games and the gates open at 4 p.m.

The Kernels return to Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Monday, April 28 to open a seven-game homestand with games against Kane County and Peoria.

Stewart shines on mound for Kernels

CLINTON - The Cedar Rapids Kernels held the Clinton LumberKings to two hits Friday night in a 6-1 victory before 5,136 fans at Ashford University Field.

The Kernels (10-10) snapped a three-game losing streak.

Kohl Stewart (1-1) picked up his first victory in the Midwest League. The right-hander went six innings and allowed only one hit and one unearned run. He struck out a season-high six batters.

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Rosario placed on 7-day DL

The Cedar Rapids Kernels have placed left-handed pitcher Randy Rosario on the 7-day disabled list with a left flexor mass strain.

The move, announced by Brad Steil, Director of Minor League Operations for the Twins, is retroactive to April 23.

In three starts for the Kernels, Rosario has an 0-1 record and 5.40 ERA, allowing 15 hits and nine runs (seven earned) with four strikeouts and eight walks in 11.2 innings.

The Twins did not announce a corresponding move, leaving the roster at 24 active players, one below the maximum of 25.

Kernels fall at Peoria, 5-3

PEORIA, Ill. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels fell to the Peoria Chiefs, 5-3, before 561 fans at Dozer Park Monday night in the opener of a four-game series.

Peoria's Jake Stone came up with the big hit when he drilled a two-run double to deep center field in the bottom of the eighth inning. The hit scored Kenny Peoples-Walls and Mason Katz, broke a tie and moved Peoria ahead, 5-3.

The inning started when Peoples-Walls singled and moved to second base on a wild pitch. Katz drew a walk to put two men on in front of Stone.

Christian Powell (0-1) took the loss for the Kernels. He allowed two runs on two hits in one inning. He struck out three and walked one.

Peoria picked up the game's first run in the first inning. C.J. McElroy, Jr. singled to start the inning, advanced to second base on a wild pitch by Kernels starter Aaron Slegers, went to third base on a throwing error by first baseman Mitch Garver and scored on another wild pitch.

The Kernels quickly tied the score, 1-1, in the top of the second inning. Bryan Haar doubled to left to start the inning. He advanced to third base on a wild pitch and came home on Logan Wade's RBI single into left.

The game stayed tied until the fifth inning when the Kernels jumped ahead, 2-1. Bo Altobelli began the inning with a base on balls. He moved to second base on a wild pitch and scored on Tanner Vavra's two-out RBI single past shortstop Juan Herrera.

Peoria went ahead 3-2 in the sixth inning. Carson Kelly tripled and came home on an RBI single up the middle by Peoples-Walls. He later scored on Mason Katz's RBI double down the left field line.

Zack Larson connected for his first home run of the season in the seventh inning for the Kernels to tie the game, 3-3.

Slegers started for the Kernels and pitched into the sixth inning. He

allowed three runs on five hits while striking out five and walking three. Brandon Bixler did not allow a run in just over an inning, extending his scoreless streak to 11 1/3 innings to start the season.

Chris Perry (1-0) collected the win for Peoria, allowing one run in relief. Joe Scanio secured his first save as he pitched a perfect ninth inning. Alex Reyes started for the Chiefs and allowed two runs on four hits in just over four innings. He struck out five and walked one.

The Kernels take on Peoria on Tuesday night at 6:30. Ryan Eades (1-2, 4.91) will start for the Kernels while Nick Petree (1-0, 0.00) will pitch for Peoria.

KERNELS (3): Kanzler, cf, 4 0 2 0, Vavra, 2b, 3 0 1 1, Christensen, lf, 4 0 1 0, Garver, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Haar, 3b, 4 1 1 0, Larson, rf, 4 1 1 1, Wade, dh, 4 0 1 1, Altobelli, c, 2 1 0 0, Vielma, ss, 3 0 0 0. Totals 32 3 7 2.

PEORIA (5): McElroy, cf, 4 1 2 0, Herrera, ss, 3 0 0 0, Kelly, c, 4 1 2 0, Castillo, rf, 4 0 0 0, Peoples-Walls, lf, 4 2 2 1, Bean, dh, 1 0 0 0, Katz, 2b, 3 1 1 1, Stone, 1b, 4 0 1 2, Schulze, 3b, 3 0 0 0. Totals 30 5 8 4.

Kernels    010 010 100 - 3 7 1

Peoria     100 002 02x - 5 8 0

Slegers, Bixler (6), Powell (8) and Altobelli. Reyes, Perry (5), Scanio

(9) and Kelly. W - Perry 1-0). L - Powell (0-1). S - Scanio (1). 2B - Haar

(4), Kanzler (2), Katz (4), Stone (3). 3B - Christensen (2), Kelly (2). HR

- Larson (1). SB - Peoples-Walls (2). E - Garver (2). T - 2:45. A - 561.

Kernels fall at Peoria, 5-3

PEORIA, Ill. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels fell to the Peoria Chiefs, 5-3, before 561 fans at Dozer Park Monday night in the opener of a four-game series.

Peoria's Jake Stone came up with the big hit when he drilled a two-run double to deep center field in the bottom of the eighth inning. The hit scored Kenny Peoples-Walls and Mason Katz, broke a tie and moved Peoria ahead, 5-3.

The inning started when Peoples-Walls singled and moved to second base on a wild pitch. Katz drew a walk to put two men on in front of Stone.

Christian Powell (0-1) took the loss for the Kernels. He allowed two runs on two hits in one inning. He struck out three and walked one.

Peoria picked up the game's first run in the first inning. C.J. McElroy, Jr. singled to start the inning, advanced to second base on a wild pitch by Kernels starter Aaron Slegers, went to third base on a throwing error by first baseman Mitch Garver and scored on another wild pitch.

The Kernels quickly tied the score, 1-1, in the top of the second inning. Bryan Haar doubled to left to start the inning. He advanced to third base on a wild pitch and came home on Logan Wade's RBI single into left.

The game stayed tied until the fifth inning when the Kernels jumped ahead, 2-1. Bo Altobelli began the inning with a base on balls. He moved to second base on a wild pitch and scored on Tanner Vavra's two-out RBI single past shortstop Juan Herrera.

Peoria went ahead 3-2 in the sixth inning. Carson Kelly tripled and came home on an RBI single up the middle by Peoples-Walls. He later scored on Mason Katz's RBI double down the left field line.

Zack Larson connected for his first home run of the season in the seventh inning for the Kernels to tie the game, 3-3.

Slegers started for the Kernels and pitched into the sixth inning. He allowed three runs on five hits while striking out five and walking three. Brandon Bixler did not allow a run in just over an inning, extending his scoreless streak to 11 1/3 innings to start the season.

Chris Perry (1-0) collected the win for Peoria, allowing one run in relief. Joe Scanio secured his first save as he pitched a perfect ninth inning. Alex Reyes started for the Chiefs and allowed two runs on four hits in just over four innings. He struck out five and walked one.

The Kernels take on Peoria on Tuesday night at 6:30. Ryan Eades (1-2, 4.91) will start for the Kernels while Nick Petree (1-0, 0.00) will pitch for Peoria.

KERNELS (3): Kanzler, cf, 4 0 2 0, Vavra, 2b, 3 0 1 1, Christensen, lf, 4 0 1 0, Garver, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Haar, 3b, 4 1 1 0, Larson, rf, 4 1 1 1, Wade, dh, 4 0 1 1, Altobelli, c, 2 1 0 0, Vielma, ss, 3 0 0 0. Totals 32 3 7 2.

PEORIA (5): McElroy, cf, 4 1 2 0, Herrera, ss, 3 0 0 0, Kelly, c, 4 1 2 0, Castillo, rf, 4 0 0 0, Peoples-Walls, lf, 4 2 2 1, Bean, dh, 1 0 0 0, Katz, 2b, 3 1 1 1, Stone, 1b, 4 0 1 2, Schulze, 3b, 3 0 0 0. Totals 30 5 8 4.

Kernels    010 010 100 - 3 7 1

Peoria     100 002 02x - 5 8 0

Slegers, Bixler (6), Powell (8) and Altobelli. Reyes, Perry (5), Scanio

(9) and Kelly. W - Perry 1-0). L - Powell (0-1). S - Scanio (1). 2B - Haar

(4), Kanzler (2), Katz (4), Stone (3). 3B - Christensen (2), Kelly (2). HR

- Larson (1). SB - Peoples-Walls (2). E - Garver (2). T - 2:45. A - 561.

Kernels fall at Peoria, 5-3

PEORIA, Ill. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels fell to the Peoria Chiefs, 5-3, before 561 fans at Dozer Park Monday night in the opener of a four-game series.

Peoria's Jake Stone came up with the big hit when he drilled a two-run double to deep center field in the bottom of the eighth inning. The hit scored Kenny Peoples-Walls and Mason Katz, broke a tie and moved Peoria ahead, 5-3.

The inning started when Peoples-Walls singled and moved to second base on a wild pitch. Katz drew a walk to put two men on in front of Stone.

Christian Powell (0-1) took the loss for the Kernels. He allowed two runs on two hits in one inning. He struck out three and walked one.

Peoria picked up the game's first run in the first inning. C.J. McElroy, Jr. singled to start the inning, advanced to second base on a wild pitch by Kernels starter Aaron Slegers, went to third base on a throwing error by first baseman Mitch Garver and scored on another wild pitch.

The Kernels quickly tied the score, 1-1, in the top of the second inning. Bryan Haar doubled to left to start the inning. He advanced to third base on a wild pitch and came home on Logan Wade's RBI single into left.

The game stayed tied until the fifth inning when the Kernels jumped ahead, 2-1. Bo Altobelli began the inning with a base on balls. He moved to second base on a wild pitch and scored on Tanner Vavra's two-out RBI single past shortstop Juan Herrera.

Peoria went ahead 3-2 in the sixth inning. Carson Kelly tripled and came home on an RBI single up the middle by Peoples-Walls. He later scored on Mason Katz's RBI double down the left field line.

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Haar riding the surf with Kernels

The Cedar Rapids Kernels sported a 9-7 record as they departed for Peoria Monday for the first of seven road games before returning to Veterans Memorial Stadium on Monday, April 28. They enter the week just two games behind Kane County in the Midwest League's Western Division standings.

One reason for the success they’ve had thus far has been a power surge in the heart of their batting order.

The Kernels lead the MWL in slugging percentage entering this week's games, largely due to power generated by catcher Mitch Garver and infielder Bryan Haar. Garver leads the league with five home runs, and Haar is right on his heels with four round-trippers.

This past weekend, Haar shared his perspectives on the start to the season that he and his teammates have had, as well as some thoughts about his own experiences moving from college ball, through two levels of Rookie level professional baseball and on to his first month with the Class A Kernels.

Though Garver and Haar have provided much of the power for Cedar Rapids, Haar insists their offensive success has been a team effort.

"When our team got hot and went on a little winning streak, I think we were all hitting pretty well so that helps," said Haar. "Hitting is contagious. So I think we all contributed to the good start."

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Hinojosa replaces Pineda with Kernels

The Cedar Rapids Kernels announced Monday that outfielder Jeremias Pineda has been placed on the 7-day Disabled List and that infielder Jonatan Hinojosa has joined the Kernels from Extended Spring Training.

The Minnesota Twins signed Hinojosa as a non-drafted free agent in 2009. He played 48 games with the GCL Twins last year, batting .236 with 15 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 12 attempts.

Pineda goes on the DL with a fracture of the left wrist/hamate. In 15 games for the Kernels, he is batting .163 (8-for-49) with a home run and six RBIs. Pineda was injured Saturday when he tried to make a diving catch in left field.

Hinojosa is available for Monday night's game in Peoria.

New guys help Kernels win in 12th

B.K. Santy and Jason Kanzler were disappointed when they did not make the Kernels' 25-man roster when the season began, but they're in Cedar Rapids now and making up for lost time.

Santy hit a dramatic home run to force extra innings Saturday and Kanzler delivered the game-winning hit in the 12th inning as the Kernels snapped a four-game losing streak with a 7-6 victory over West Michigan before 1,914 happy customers at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Santy, who arrived in Cedar Rapids Friday afternoon, played his first game Saturday and lofted a towering home run to left field with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game, 5-5, and give the fans some free baseball.

Kanzler, who joined the club April 9, belted a base hit to left-center to drive in Engelb Vielma with the winning run with one out in the 12th.

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