Cedar Rapids Kernels

Kernels enjoy 23-3 romp over Peoria

Every minor leaguer's goal entering the season is to develop his game to the point where he earns a promotion to the next level in the system.

Sometimes, that call comes when a player has dominated play within his current league. Other times, circumstances align to create an opportunity for a player to move up the organizational ladder, at least temporarily.

Such circumstances allowed Cedar Rapids Kernels third baseman T.J. White to get a promotion to Fort Myers July 10, despite carrying just a .230 batting average at the time. But as the Miracle began to rack up injuries among their early-season regulars at the corner infield positions, White and catcher/first baseman Brett Doe both got the call to move up. By Aug. 4, White was back in a Kernels uniform for Manager Jake Mauer.

"Yeah, Jake pretty much let us know,” White recalled. “He said it could be four to five days, it could be two weeks or it could be the whole season. So we were looking to just go play and have fun with it.”

White is still having fun and has turned his season around. Through the weekend, he was carrying a .317 batting average since his return to the Kernels and had reached base in 20 straight games.

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Gibbons named MWL Pitcher of Week

The Midwest League and MiLB.com announced Monday that Kernels pitcher Sam Gibbons has been named the MWL Pitcher of the Week for the period ending Aug. 23.

Gibbons struck out 12 batters and allowed just one hit in eight innings in a 2-0 win at Clinton Saturday. This is the second time this season that Gibbons has been named Pitcher of the Week.

The Minnesota Twins signed Gibbons as an international free agent on July 2, 2011 and this is his fourth season in professional baseball.

Tanner English, Felix Jorge, Stephen Gonsalves, Trey Vavra, Max Murphy and Keaton Steele of the Kernels also have received one of the weekly honors from the Midwest League this season.

No Kernels picked for all-star team

No players from the Cedar Rapids Kernels have been named to the Midwest League Postseason All-Star Team.

First Baseman/DH Ryan McBroom of Lansing was named the MWL Most Valuable Player and shortstop Gleyber Torres of South Bend was named the MWL Prospect of the Year. Quad Cities Manager Josh Bonifay was named the MWL Manager of the Year.

Peoria had three players on the squad while Lansing and Quad Cities each had two. The team was selected by the 16 Midwest League managers.

Here is the team:

First Base - Ryan McBroom (Lansing)
Second Base - Darren Seferina (Peoria)
Third Base - Nick Tanielu (Quad Cities)
Shortstop - Gleyber Torres (South Bend)
Outfield - Mike Gerber (West Michigan)
Outfield - Nick Torres (Fort Wayne)
Outfield - Alex Verdugo (Great Lakes)
Catcher - Jacob Nottingham (Quad Cities)
Designated Hitter - Ryan McBroom (Lansing)
RH Pitcher - Tyler Mahle (Dayton)
LH Pitcher - Austin Gomber (Peoria)
RH Reliever - Kyle Grana (Peoria)
LH Reliever - Zac Curtis (Kane County)

LumberKings dump Kernels, 11-7

CLINTON - The Clinton LumberKings erupted for eight runs in the fifth inning Sunday afternoon and defeated the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 11-7, in a Midwest League game at Ashford University Field.

The game was tied, 3-3, when Clinton took control of the ballgame in the fifth inning against Kernels starter Randy LeBlanc and relief pitcher Jared Wilson. LeBlanc was charged with seven run in four innings and Wilson allowed four runs in one inning.

LeBlanc (8-5) gave up two home runs. He faced four batters in the fifth inning and all four reached base.

T.J. White went 3-for-5 with three RBIs for Cedar Rapids. Alex Real was 2-for-4.

The Kernels (71-54) begin a three-game series against Peoria at Veterans Memorial Stadium Monday night at 6:35.

KERNELS (7): Valera, 2b, 5 0 0 0, Gordon, ss, 4 3 1 0, White, 3b, 5 1 3 3, Doe, c, 5 0 0 0, Murphy, rf, 3 1 1 1, Real, dh, 4 1 2 1, Larson, lf, 2 0 1 1, Kelly, 1b, 4 1 1 0, Diemer, cf, 4 0 1 1. Totals 36 7 10 7.

CLINTON (11): Fields, lf, 3 1 0 0, Cousino, cf, 5 2 2 2, Wawoe, ss, 5 2 3 4, Reynolds, dh, 5 0 0 0, Morales, rf, 3 0 1 0, DeCarlo, 3b, 3 1 0 0, Leyland, 1b, 2 2 1 0, Martin, c, 4 2 3 4, Mariscal, 2b, 4 1 2 1. Totals 34 11 12 11.

Kernels    002 010 031 - 7 10 0
Clinton    001 280 00x - 11 12 1

LeBlanc, Wilson (5), Landa (6), Curtiss (8) and Doe. Herb, Morales (6), Dominguez (9) and Martin. W - Herb (5-8). L - LeBlanc (8-5). 2B - Diemer (4), Larson (20), Gordon (20), White (17), Mariscal (13), Cousino (10), Martin (2). HR - Martin (3), Wawoe (8). SB - Gordon (24), Wawoe (10). E - Wawoe (14). T - 2:43.