Cedar Rapids Kernels

Gordon shines again, but Kernels fall

It's now okay to use the words "Nick Gordon" and "Kernels MVP" in the same sentence.

Gordon belted his first home run of the season and went 3-for-5 Friday night, but it wasn't enough to keep the sloppy Kernels from dropping a 7-5 verdict to Bowling Green before 3,850 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Gordon, a 19-year-old shortstop, was hitting about .220 in the middle of the season, but he's turned on the jets and is hitting a healthy .277 now with 29 games left in the regular season.

Gordon ranks 1st, 2nd or 3rd in numerous offensive categories for Cedar Rapids and is putting a solid season together in his second year in pro ball. The "MVP" chant has not begun at Perfect Game Field yet, but it might soon.

"Nick and Eddie Corcino would probably be 1 and 1A," Manager Jake Mauer said after the MPVs on his club. "Both those guys have been huge for us.

"Nick has really come on. He's taking the steps that we were hoping for in April when the year began. He's raised his average 60 points. That's hard to do late in the year."

Gordon has gone 9-for-14 in his last four games, including a walk-off pinch-hit single in a 5-4 victory over Dayton Thursday night. He has 48 RBIs, trailing only Zack Larson, despite normally hitting in the No. 2 spot in the order.

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Anderson joins Kernels pitching staff

The Cedar Rapids Kernels and Minnesota Twins announced Friday that right-hander Nick Anderson has been signed by the Twins as a non-drafted free agent and assigned to the Kernels roster.

The Milwaukee Brewers originally drafted Anderson in the 32nd round in 2012 from Mayville State University in North Dakota. This season he has made 25 relief appearances for the Frontier Greys in the independent Frontier League, posting a 2-0 record, 0.65 ERA and 13 saves.

Anderson is active and available for Friday night's home game against Bowling Green.

Gordon delivers in pinch for Kernels

It only seemed like Kernels shortstop Nick Gordon would get his first night off in more than two weeks Thursday against Dayton.

He was not in the starting lineup, but nearly three hours later Gordon’s night-off was cut short when he was called on to pinch-hit with two outs and the Kernels’ potential winning run on third base in a 4-4 game.

Gordon worked a full count, then laced a single to left field to drive in Zack Larson with the winning and begin the celebration in a 5-4 victory before 2,935 fans in Veterans Memorial Stadium

Gordon said he had a couple of walk-off hits in high school. “In pro ball, that was really my first real walk-off,” he remarked.

Gordon was not surprised to get a chance in a clutch situation.

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Jorge has rough outing for Kernels

Feliz Jorge has spoiled Cedar Rapids Kernels fans this season with a long string of outstanding performances on the pitching mound, so it comes as a small jolt whenever he struggles a little bit.

It happened for the second straight game Wednesday night.

Jorge surrendered six runs in six innings and the Kernels lost to Dayton, 8-3, before 3,312 fans in a Midwest League game at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Jorge, a talented 21-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic, allowed seven runs in 5 1/3 innings in his previous outing July 29 against Clinton. Prior to that, he mowed everybody down on a regular basis.

Jorge was touched for two home runs in the second inning when Dayton scored five times for a 5-0 lead. He was nicked for an unearned run in the third inning, then settled down and finished the night with three scoreless innings.

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