Cedar Rapids Kernels roll past Quad Cities, LaMonte Wade continues to reach base

CEDAR RAPIDS — On a day when the Cedar Rapids Kernels had a bunch of hits, LaMonte Wade didn't have any, and that's news.

It was just the sixth time in 36 games the outfielder has been shutout this Midwest League season. And he didn't get completely shut out, considering he walked and scored a run in C.R.'s 8-1 win Sunday afternoon over Quad Cities at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Wade has reached base in every game but one via hit or walk. His current streak is up to an impressive 23 straight games.

'It just means I'm getting on base, helping out the team anyway I can,' he said. 'Just try to get on, do what I can. I think it also means that I'm having some good at-bats, not giving too many of them away. That's good. Just keep working hard at it.'

The 22-year-old from Baltimore and the University of Maryland was a ninth-round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins last June. He came up toward the end of the season and played a starting outfield role for a Kernels club that lost in the deciding game of the MWL championship series.

Wade has been Cedar Rapids' most consistent hitter, still toting around a .326 average even after an 0-for-4 game. Keep in mind, he has had probably close to 10 hits taken away by defensive shifts in which the opponent places its shortstop behind the second-base bag.

Again Sunday, Wade hit a hard shot past the pitcher and into the shift for an out.

'It kind of stinks because you had a good at-bat, you hit it up the middle, didn't try to do too much with it,' he said. 'I see the shift, and it goes right at them. It kind of sucks, but you've got to flush it, get to the next at-bat and try to beat them next time.'

Kernels coaches continue to tell him not to change anything with his swing. Just keep swinging.

'Just keep doing what you're doing,' Wade said. 'Those aren't bad outs, those are good outs. They're hard hit. You can't do much about it. Just keep trying, keep working in batting practice on hitting it the other way because you know the shortstop's not there. It'll come through, it'll work out.'

The Kernels (24-18) pounded out 15 hits and got a nice starting pitching performance from Miles Nordgren (2-1). The right-hander from NCAA Division III Birmingham-Southern College had his longest professional outing, a seven-inning job in which he allowed eight hits but just one run.

He did end his start with nine straight outs.

'I just got some groundballs when I needed them,' he said. 'I had to pitch in some sticky situations, four pitches where I had runners on second and third. Luckily, I got some groundballs to the right people: the shortstop and myself. Kept us in the game.'

Cedar Rapids had 15 hits, three by Nelson Molina. Zander Wiel hit his first home run of the season, a 417-foot no-doubter to left in the eighth.

Reliever Michael Theofanopoulos finished things up for the Kernels with two shutout inning, running his streak to 10 straight scoreless appearances over 18 2/3 innings. The teams conclude their four-game series with a Monday nooner.

Kernels Manager Jake Mauer said injured utilityman Rafael Valera has a partial tear in his right labrum and likely will miss significant time. Valera, who went on the disabled list last week, has opted to rehab the shoulder instead of having surgery.

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