Kernels' Walker on another hitting tear

CEDAR RAPIDS - While Adam Brett Walker has been shouldering more of the offensive load due to some recent promotions, it was not enough Wednesday night for the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

Walker, who leads the Midwest League in home runs (22) and RBIs (89), returned to Veterans Memorial Stadium last night with 19 hits in his last 48 at-bats (. 396), including nine home runs and 21 RBIs.

“I think it's just coming in slower I feel like, just trying to slow the game down,” Walker said before Cedar Rapids hosted Peoria before 1,945 fans, an 8-7 loss in 10 innings. “Just make sure you're seeing it out of the hand, just trying to pick it up early.”

Walker's tear through Midwest League pitching is reminiscent of his start to the season when he hit nine home runs and drove in 40 runs in his first 33 games. But as the Western Division teams got another look, Walker was just 13-for-74 (. 189) with a homer and 10 RBIs over the next 21.

“I think they were doing the same thing they're trying to do now,” Kernels hitting coach Tommy Watkins said. “He was at a point then where he would chase the breaking balls out of the zone and he was missing his fastballs.”

Walker missed two games in early June with a sore hand.

“I know while I was out I clearly tried to watch the game, see what pitchers are doing and just kind of observe the game a little bit,” Walker said. “It just kind of took my mind off me struggling a little bit. I think it just helped me get a new start. Start over, just try to get back to a good spot.”

Walker ended the first half with five multi-hit games out of nine and despite the promotion of run-producing stars Byron Buxton and Dalton Hicks has hit .325 with 12 home runs and 35 RBIs since the break.

“We try to tell Adam, ‘You know we lost these guys, but it doesn't mean you have to do any more, just be yourself,'” Watkins said. “Be Adam Brett Walker, and good things will happen.”

Niko Goodrum missed his second straight game with a minor leg injury suffered Sunday.

The teams play again Thursday night at 6:35.