Cedar Rapids Kernels Baseball

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.

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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.

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Kernels bite Timber Rattlers, 5-3

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. - Dalton Hicks drove in two runs, Tyler Grimes hit a key home run and the Kernels got strong work from their bullpen in a 5-3 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers before 4,406 fans at Fox Cities Stadium Friday night.

Tim Atherton and Kaleb Merck pitched the final six innings in relief to secure the victory for Cedar Rapids (2-0).

Atherton (4-2) pitched four innings, allowing no runs on two hits, and retired the first 10 batters he faced. Merck went two innings for his first save, allowing no runs on three hits while striking out one.

Hicks, who leads the Midwest League with 65 RBIs, got the Kernels on the board in the first inning when he doubled home Travis Harrison.

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Powell, Harrison lead Kernels by Wisconsin

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. - Christian Powell pitched a strong game and Travis Harrison belted a two-run homer as the Cedar Rapids Kernels opened the second half of the Midwest League campaign with a 3-1 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers before 3,966 fans at Fox Cities Stadium Thursday night.

Powell (1-1) went a season-high seven innings, allowing a single run on four hits. He struck out five and walked two.

Caleb Brewer recorded his first save, pitching two scoreless innings while striking out one and allowing two hits. Harrison went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

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Kernels approaching 2 million fans

The Cedar Rapids Kernels have drawn 1,994,577 fans to Veterans Memorial Stadium since the new stadium opened in 2002 and expect to reach 2 million next week.

The lucky fan who is number 2,000,000 will receive a $3,000 prize package that includes $1,500 in cash and the following:

• One night in a Kernels diamond suite
• Four "Praise in the Park" concert tickets
• Two Minnesota Twins tickets
• Four MMA tickets on Saturday, Aug. 10
• Kernels merchandise (T-shirt, cap and merchandise)
• 2013 team autographed ball
• Ox Yoke gift certificate
• Fareway gift certificate
• Hy-Vee gift certificate
• Jimmy Johns gift certificate
• Genghis Grill gift certificate
• Stadium Lounge gift certificate

Based on attendance projections, the Kernels expect to reach the 2 million milestone during the next homestand from June 25 through July 1, most likely on Wednesday, June 26 or Thursday, June 27.

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MSR Special: Q&A with Melotakis, Hicks

Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher Mason Melotakis and first baseman Dalton (DJ) Hicks are roommates this summer, sharing the same host family during their stay in Cedar Rapids.

Both men played major roles with the Kernels as the team qualified for the Midwest League playoffs by finishing second in the league’s Western Division during the first half of the season and both could be candidates for promotion at some point this summer.

Melotakis leads the Kernels pitching staff in wins with six and in innings pitched with 64 2/3. Those six wins are good for the fourth spot among Midwest League pitchers. The lefty has been perhaps the most consistently reliable member of the Kernels’ rotation in recent weeks.

Hicks has been one of the biggest power hitting threats in the Midwest League. He leads the Midwest League with 63 RBIs in 66 games for the Kernels and is third in the League with 12 home runs (just one home run behind co-leaders Renato Nunez of Beloit and Rock Shoulders of Kane County). He is one of eight Kernels who were named to the Midwest League's Western Division All-Star team.

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Kernels contribute in All-Star Game

DAYTON, Ohio - Dalton Pompey's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the East past the West, 6-5, Tuesday night in the Midwest League All-Star Game played before a crowd of 8,746 at Fifth Third Field.

Cedar Rapids Kernels shortstop Niko Goodrum had a two-run single for the West in the top of the ninth to pull it within 5-4. The tying run scored on a wild pitch.

A pair of Kernels contributed to the West's first two runs in the top of the second inning. Adam Brett Walker of the Kernels lined a lead-off single and scored on a double by Kane County's Dan Vogelbach, who later scored on a sacrifice fly by the Kernels' Jorge Polanco.

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Kepler joining Kernels; Is Buxton leaving?

Hello, Max Kepler.

Goodbye, Byron Buxton?

Kepler, a German-born outfielder, is scheduled to arrive in Cedar Rapids Wednesday afternoon and join the Kernels when they start the second half of the Midwest League season Thursday night at Wisconsin.

At this point, Kepler will be replacing pitcher Hein Robb on the 25-man roster following Robb's demotion to Elizabethton in the Appalachian League.

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Hein Robb assigned to Elizabethton

The Cedar Rapids Kernels and Minnesota Twins announced Monday that left-handed pitcher Hein Robb has been assigned to the Elizabethton Twins of the Appalachian League. Brad Steil, Director of Minor League Operations for the Twins, announced the move.

Robb made three starts for the Kernels with no record and a 7.59 ERA. In 10.2 IP, he allowed 11 hits and 10 runs (nine earned) with nine walks and 10 strikeouts.

The move put the Kernels roster at 24 active players, one below the Midwest League maximum of 25, with two players on the disabled list.

The Kernels are on a break for the MWL All-Star Game at Dayton on June 18th. Their next game is at Wisconsin on Thursday. They return to Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, June 25th.