Cedar Rapids Kernels News: August 18 - August 24, 2024

Cedar Rapids Kernels: A Week of Ups and Downs

Recent Games

- Cedar Rapids Pitching Leads Kernels Past Cubs 4-1: The Kernels' pitching staff was on point, leading the team to a 4-1 victory over the Cubs. This win showcased the team's ability to control the game from the mound.

- Klein, Gonzalez Lead Kernels Past Cubs 6-3: John Klein and Gonzalez were key players in this win, demonstrating the team's offensive and defensive capabilities.

- South Bend Erupts for 15 Runs on 17 Hits, Rocks Cedar Rapids 15-2: Despite a strong start, the Kernels were overwhelmed by South Bend's offense, highlighting areas for improvement.

- Rincon Dominates, Peoria Blanks Cedar Rapids 1-0: In a tightly contested game, Peoria's pitching dominated, leaving the Kernels scoreless.

- Jenkins Collects First RBI, but Kernels Fall Short Against Great Lakes 5-2: Walk Jenkins made a notable contribution with his first High-A RBI, but it wasn't enough to secure a win against Great Lakes.

- Ferris No-Hits Cedar Rapids Through Eight, Loons Top Kernels 6-1: Great Lakes' starter Jackson Ferris was nearly untouchable, no-hitting the Kernels through eight innings and leading his team to a 6-1 victory.

- Great Lakes Strikes for 15 Runs, Routs Cedar Rapids 15-3: The Kernels faced another offensive onslaught from Great Lakes, resulting in their largest loss of the season.

- Kernels Come from Three Down, Walk-Off Great Lakes 4-3: In a thrilling comeback, the Kernels managed to overcome a three-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth to win 4-3 against Great Lakes.

- Culpepper, Carr Shine in Kernels 5-3 Win Over Quad Cities: C.J. Culpepper and Jordan Carr were instrumental in securing a 5-3 win over Quad Cities, showcasing the team's pitching depth.

- Kernels Bats Fall Silent in 4-1 Loss at Quad Cities: The Kernels struggled offensively, managing only one hit in the final eight innings, leading to a 4-1 loss against Quad Cities.

- Pitching, Small Ball Leads Kernels Over Timber Rattlers 2-1: Christian MacLeod's strong pitching and the team's small ball tactics were key to a 2-1 win over Wisconsin.

- Beloit Tops Cedar Rapids in Series Finale 3-2: The Sky Carp bullpen shut out the Kernels for eight innings, leading to a 3-2 loss for Cedar Rapids.

- Kernels Rally to Drop Beloit in Extras 3-2: The Kernels came from behind to win 3-2 in extras against Beloit, demonstrating their ability to perform under pressure.

- Beloit Scores Six Times in the First, Upends Cedar Rapids 9-4: The Sky Carp's early offensive surge was too much for the Kernels to overcome, resulting in a 9-4 loss.

- Kernels Rally to Knock-Off Beloit 4-2 in 10 Innings: Ricardo Olivar and Rubel Cespedes were crucial in the Kernels' extra-inning win over Beloit, showcasing the team's resilience.

- Beloit Pitching Dominates, Sky Carp Top Kernels for Second Straight Night, 3-1: The Sky Carp's pitching staff dominated the Kernels, limiting them to just one run on two hits.

Notable Performances

- Luke Keaschall: Batted .500 with a 1.420 OPS, including two home runs and two doubles.

- Kevin Maitan: Made his Twins organization debut, homering and going 4-for-13 in his first three games.

- Rubel Cespedes: Hit .364 with a pair of stolen bases.

- John Klein: Posted a one-hit start across six innings, striking out six and walking one.

- Andrew Morris: Had a seven-inning scoreless start, allowing only one hit and striking out six.

Transactions

- OF Walker Jenkins: Assigned to FCL Twins on MiLB rehab.

- SS Brooks Lee: Assigned to FCL Twins on MiLB rehab.

- RHP Andrew Huffman: Assigned to FCL Twins.

- RHP Andrew Morris: Promoted to Double-A Wichita from Cedar Rapids.

- IF Rayne Doncon: Promoted to Cedar Rapids.

- RHP Jeremy Lee: Promoted to Cedar Rapids.

- OF Willie Joe Garry Jr.: Released by Twins.

Conclusion

The Cedar Rapids Kernels have shown a mix of strong performances and areas for improvement over the past week. Despite facing tough losses, the team has demonstrated resilience and determination. With notable performances from players like Luke Keaschall, Kevin Maitan, and Rubel Cespedes, the Kernels are looking to build on their strengths and address their weaknesses as they move forward in the season.