Cedar Rapids Kernels Baseball

Kernels belt Timber Rattlers, 10-2

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels came out swinging Monday night in a 10-2 runaway over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in a Midwest League game before 3,036 fans at Fox Cities Stadium.

Cedar Rapids (4-1) scored three runs apiece in the first and second innings for an early 6-0 lead to support David Hurlbut, who had a quality start on the mound.

The Kernels began both innings with back-to-back walks to get things going. Dalton Hicks hit a double off the right-field wall to bring home Byron Buxton for a 1-0 lead, then Adam Brett Walker smacked a double off the left-field wall to drive in Romy Jimenez and Hicks for a 3-0 lead.

Buxton hit a three-run homer in the second inning after two more walks for a 6-0 bulge.

Read more...

Kernels get high grades so far

It’s no secret that the new baseball season opened up in Cedar Rapids with high expectations for this year’s group of Kernels.

In addition to cracking the seal on the first year of the new affiliation between the Kernels and the Minnesota Twins, it’s been widely reported that this year’s team has the potential to be one of the best collections of prospects Cedar Rapids fans have had the pleasure of watching in Kernels uniforms for a number of years.

So, with the first series of the year under our belts, what kind of impression have the Kernels made?

Read more...

Kernels hurlers no-hit Beloit

The Cedar Rapids Kernels wrapped up their first homestand of the season in style, no-hitting the visiting Beloit Snappers and winning the final game of the series, 9-1.

Right-handed starting pitcher Tyler Duffey tossed seven perfect innings at the Snappers, striking out seven hitters in the process. Newcomer Josue Montanez relieved Duffey in the eighth inning. While he struggled with his control and gave up a run, he kept the Kernels’ no-hitter intact. Right-hander Tim Atherton struck out three batters in the ninth inning to seal the no-hitter.

The Kernels’ hitters provided plenty of offensive support for their pitching staff, as well. Cedar Rapids totaled 15 hits, six of them for extra bases.

Read more...

Tomshaw pitches for Kernels with a smile

Matt Tomshaw does not fit the profile for a typical pitcher in the Midwest League.

He's 24 years old, which is a year or two older than most of the other pitchers for the Cedar Rapids Kernels, and he'll turn 25 in December.

He has a college degree from Jacksonville University in finance and worked for a financial company during the offseason in the mortgage department.

Read more...

Goodrum delivers for Kernels (and his dad)

Niko Goodrum's father, visiting from Georgia, was taking a video of his son's final at-bat at Veterans Memorial Stadium Friday night when he got something a little unexpected.

He got a collector's item.

Goodrum lined a game-winning single with one out in the bottom of the ninth as the Kernels rallied to trim Beloit, 3-2, before 1,026 fans in a Midwest League game.

Read more...

Kernels make strong impression in opener

The Cedar Rapids Kernels helped themselves to heaping plates of meatballs and spaghetti as the stereo blared in their victorious locker room Thursday night.

As far as first impressions go, they made a good one.

The Kernels belted two home runs in the first inning and their pitchers struck out 16 batters as they trimmed Beloit in the season opener, 9-7, before 1,943 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Read more...

Kernels pitchers punch out 16 in opener

The Major League pitching staff of the Minnesota Twins may have more than their fair share of question marks as the 2013 season opens, but on Thursday night a couple of possible answers were on display at Perfect Game Field in Cedar Rapids.

Of course, those answers may take a couple of years to emerge at the Major League level.

Cedar Rapids Kernels pitchers Taylor Rogers and Tyler Jones combined to strike out 13 Beloit Snappers hitters Thursday night, as the Kernels topped Beloit 9-7. Manuel Soliman and Chris Mazza added three more strikeouts while finishing up the final two innings, giving Kernels pitchers a total of 16 stikeouts on the night.

Read more...

New affiliation ignites enthusiasm for Kernels

Bob and Janean Blake have been season-ticket holders and have served as a host family for the Cedar Rapids Kernels for 13 seasons.

When the Marion couple heard the Kernels were going to be affiliated with the Minnesota Twins last fall, they couldn't wait for opening day.

They were in attendance Thursday night as Cedar Rapids opened with a 9-7 win over Beloit at Veterans Memorial Stadium and are thrilled about what the new affiliation will mean to the community and them personally.

Read more...

Kernels will use 6-man rotation

The Cedar Rapids Kernels plan to use a six-man rotation with their starting pitchers this season, an unsual gambit that's one pitcher more than normal.

The directive came from the Minnesota Twins, the local club's new Major League affiliate.

The idea is to spread the workload and give pitchers an opportunity to develop at the Class A level in the Midwest League.

"Obviously there's a need in our organization for starters, and we're pretty excited about some of these young men we took in the draft last year," Kernels Manager Jake Mauer said Wednesday.

Read more...