Cedar Rapids Kernels

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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