A perfect weather night, a perfect ending to a perfect home opener for a Kernels team that remains ... perfect

CEDAR RAPIDS — So far the kids are all right.

And undefeated.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels have a 4-0 record after a perfect ending to a perfect home opener on a perfect Tuesday night weather wise for April.

Emmanuel Rodriguez crushed a walk-off grand slam with none out in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Cedar Rapids an 8-4 win over Quad Cities before a nice opening-night crowd of 2,280 at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Rodriguez is among a number of prospects on this Kernels team, one of nine ranked in the parent Minnesota Twins’ top 30. He checks in at No. 3 on that list, and his at-bat in crunch time showed why.

Facing fellow lefty Emilio Marquez of Quad Cities, Rodriguez got a fastball that he hammered 438 feet on to the black batter’s eye above the center-field fence. The line drive registered 111 miles per hour off the bat.

That is strongly struck.

“He had that one walk earlier in the game, was taking some pitches better tonight, not chasing as much,” said Kernels Manager Brian Dinkelman. “Last at-bat there, chance to win the ball game, he got a pitch over the middle of the plate, and he hammered it. What a great way to finish opening night”

The Kernels have prospects, but several of them are 19, 20 and 21 years old, which is young for high-Class A. But those youngsters have done enough offensively, combining with a more experienced pitching staff that’s getting outs, to be successful very early.

The Kernels swept their opening Midwest League series this past weekend, winning at Peoria, 3-2, 4-3 in 10 innings and 8-4. The season opener saw Cedar Rapids rally for two runs in the eighth inning to get the win, rally for a run in the ninth and one in the 10th to win Game 2.

“We got three wins, two of the three were in comeback fashion,” said Dinkelman said of the opening series. “We won one there in extra innings. We got some big hits from the guys, got some grit and fight from the guys. It was a good weekend overall.”

Tuesday’s game saw the Kernels rally for two runs in the eighth for a 4-3 lead, only to have Quad Cities tie it immediately in the top of the ninth on a home run. The River Bandits had runners on the corners with one out and a real good chance to take the lead, but QC’s Gavin Cross, the parent Kansas City Royals’ top-round draft pick last year, hit a low line drive that Kernels first baseman Ben Ross snagged on a backhand, trotting to first base for the double play.

Noah Cardenas, Willie Joe Garry Jr. and Noah Miller coaxed walks to begin the bottom of the ninth, setting up 19-year-old Rodriguez for his heroics.

A lot of these players were part of a low-A Fort Myers team last season that made the Florida State League playoffs. There appears to be good camaraderie, which always is key for successful clubs.

“They seem to get along with each other, so, yeah, I think they’re pulling with each other,” Dinkelman said. “You want guys to do well individually, but you also want them to win ballgames, to learn how to win so when they get to the big leagues they win. It also makes the environment fun to be in, too, when you win ballgames.”

A good crowd took advantage of rare warm April weather Tuesday. It’s supposed to be in the 70s and 80s most of the rest of the week, which should boost attendance.

Cedar Rapids and Quad Cities play five more times in this series, including Wednesday night at 6:35.

“It’s great to be able to reconnect with all the fans,” said Kernels CEO Doug Nelson. “To get that opportunity to see friends that you haven’t seen all winter. It’s also a new beginning.”

“No matter how many years you are in baseball, opening day is always a special day,” Dinkelman said. “You’re back with the team, back in front of the home fans, new opportunity for another season. This year with good weather, it’s just a good day to be at the ballpark.”

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The club is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony a week from Tuesday (April 18) for interested fans, celebrating the construction of an annex next to the ballpark and the new, improved and larger clubhouses, part of a $3.34-million construction project to get the Kernels up to Major League Baseball-required specifications.

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