Cedar Rapids Kernels

Larson replaces Real on Kernels roster

The Cedar Rapids Kernels and Minnesota Twins announced Wednesday that catcher Alex Real has been placed on the 7-day disabled list, retroactive to Sept. 15, with a left knee effusion and outfielder Zack Larson has been activated from the 7-day DL.

Larson went on the DL on Sept. 2 with a left oblique strain. In 106 games for the Kernels, he is batting .214 with 20 doubles and 54 RBIs.

Real played in 64 regular-season games for the Kernels this season, batting .261 with three homers and 30 RBIs. He also has played in one playoff game, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Larson is active and available for Game 1 of the MWL Championship Series against the West Michigan Whitecaps Wednesday night.

Kernels face West Michigan in MWL finals

The Cedar Rapids Kernels will play the West Michigan Whitecaps in the Midwest League championship series that begins Wednesday night.

West Michigan defeated Lansing, 14-5, Monday night to win the Eastern Division title, 2-1. The Kernels defeated Peoria Sunday, 5-4, to claim the Western Division title, 2-0.

The Kernels and Whitecaps will meet in a best-of-5 series. The first two games will be held at Comstock Park in Comstock, Mich., on Wednesday and Thursday night at 5:35 p.m. (Central time) both nights.

Comstock Park is a suburb of Grand Rapids. The ballpark holds 10,900.

Games 3, 4 and 5 are scheduled for Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday at 3:35, Sunday at 2:05 and Monday at 6:35. The first team to win three games wins the Midwest League title.

Kernels eye first title since 1994

The Cedar Rapids Kernels reeled off three straight wins to start their 2015 playoff season by combining strong pitching with mistake-free defense.

One bad defensive play and some questionable base-running nearly ended that winning streak Sunday, but the Kernels clawed back from a 4-1 deficit to claim a 5-4 win over the Peoria Chiefs for the Midwest League Western Division title.

Cedar Rapids will be seeking its first Midwest League crown since 1994 when the final round begins Wednesday against Lansing or Western Michigan, which are battling for the Eastern Division title. The series between is tied, 1-1, with Game 3 Monday night.

The Eastern Division champ will host Games 1 and 2 Wednesday and Thursday, with Games 3, 4 and 5 at Veterans Memorial Stadium next Saturday, Sunday and Monday in the best-of-5 series.

Game 3 in the MWL finals will begin Saturday at 3:35 p.m. at the stadium.

The Kernels belted out 13 hits Sunday and all four of Peoria’s runs were unearned.

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Murphy helps Kernels top Peoria in opener

PEORIA, Ill. - While playing baseball for the Bradley University Braves, Max Murphy called Dozer Park in Peoria his home field. On Saturday night, Murphy visited Dozer Park again and held his own personal homecoming celebration.

Murphy’s two-run home run to deep left field in the seventh inning snapped a 1-1 tie and powered the Kernels to a 3-2 victory over the Peoria Chiefs before a crowd of 989 at the ballpark Murphy used to call home.

The win gave the Kernels a 1-0 lead in the best-of-3 Midwest League Western Division Championship Series. The Kernels can clinch the series Sunday at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids at 4:05 p.m. A third game, if necessary, would be played in Cedar Rapids Monday night.

Murphy, the Kernels designated hitter, had been held hitless in the postseason going into the game, but his first playoff hit was a game-changer.

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