Cedar Rapids Kernels

English goes 5-for-5 as Kernels roll

Tanner English entered Tuesday’s game with the Dayton Dragons having reached base in 14 consecutive games for the Cedar Rapids Kernels. The Kernels’ leadoff batter wasted no time making it 15 straight and proceeded to enjoy a special game.

English led off the home half of the first inning with a double to right-center field and went 5-for-5 in an 8-1 victory over Dayton before 2,807 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

English became the first Kernel to collect five hits in a ballgame since Byron Buxton went 5-for-6 against Quad Cities on June 5, 2013. He also became the first Kernel to collect three doubles in one game this season.

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Kernels make 3 roster moves

The Cedar Rapids Kernels and Minnesota Twins announced Monday that pitcher Luke Westphal has been promoted to Fort Myers, infielder Sean Miller has been placed on the 7-day Disabled List with a thumb injury and infielder T.J. White has rejoined the Kernels from Fort Myers.

Westphal pitched in seven games (six starts) for the Kernels this season, posting a 1-2 record and 2.70 ERA. The Twins signed him as a non-drafted free agent Jan. 31.

Miller has played in 13 games for the Kernels, batting .318 with a double and two RBIs. He was selected by the Twins in the 10th round of the 2015 draft from the University of South Carolina-Aiken.

White was assigned to Fort Myers on July 10 and played in 20 games, batting .171 with a double and two RBIs. He played in 74 games for the Kernels earlier this season, batting .230 with 10 doubles, five triples  and 26 RBIs. He was selected by the Twins in the 18th round of the 2014 draft from UNLV.

Gibbons named MWL Pitcher of the Week

The Midwest League and MiLB.com announced Monday that Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher Sam Gibbons has been named the MWL Pitcher of the Week for the period ending Aug. 2.

Gibbons pitched a nine-inning shutout Saturday in a 7-0 win at Kane County. He scattered four hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck out nine.

The Twins signed Gibbons, who is from Australia, as an international free agent on July 2, 2011. This is his fourth season in professional baseball.

Bobby Bradley of the Lake County Captains was named the MWL Player of the Week for the same period.

Gibbons is the sixth Kernel to be honored by the Midwest League this season, joining Felix Jorge, Stephen Gonsalves, Trey Vavra, Max Murphy and Keaton Steele.

Kernels playoff tickets on sale now

Tickets for the Cedar Rapids Kernels' first-round playoff game against the Quad Cities River Bandits on Wednesday, Sept. 9 are on sale now through the Kernels Ticket Office and online at www.kernels.com.

The Kernels qualified for the Midwest League playoffs as the first half Western Division wild card team and will play Quad Cities, the first half Western Division champion, in a best-of-three series with Game 1 at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium at 6:35 p.m.

Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) will be played in Davenport.

Playoff ticket prices are the same as the 2015 regular season if purchased in advance: $11 for Premier Seats, $10 for Club Seats, $8 for Plaza Seats and $7 for Lawn Seating. All tickets increase by $1 the day of the playoff game.