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Cedar Rapids Kernels go from 13 runs to 1 in a matter of hours
Club wins in lopsided manner Tuesday night, drops 5-1 decision Wednesday afternoon to Wisconsin
May. 25, 2022 11:04 pm, Updated: May. 26, 2022 9:26 am
Cedar Rapids Kernels' Seth Gray reacts at the dugout after scoring from third base on a wild pitch during the second inning of their Midwest League baseball game against the Peoria Chiefs at Veterans Memorial Stadium in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
CEDAR RAPIDS — We’ve just got to take it one game at a time.
See the ball, and hit the ball.
It’s a beautiful day, let’s play two.
You’ve got a million cliches in the game of baseball that you hear regularly. On a daily basis.
When asked Wednesday afternoon how his Cedar Rapids Kernels could go from scoring 13 runs Tuesday night to just one a few hours later, that one coming on a two-out solo home run in the ninth inning, no less, Manager Brian Dinkelman gave you baseball cliche 1,000,001.
“You’re only as good as your next day’s starting pitcher, right?” Dinkelman said with a smile.
Wednesday’s starting pitcher for Wisconsin was Justin Jarvis, and he was plenty good, throwing 6 2/3 innings of two-hit shutout baseball in his team’s 5-1 win over the Kernels before 2,366 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
This was the first weekday noon game in Cedar Rapids since 2019, one that included a bunch of school kids. The Kernels didn’t give them much of anything to shriek about.
“Jarvis was good. He threw the ball well,” Dinkelman said. “He mixed his fastball with that big breaking ball. So, yeah, we didn’t hit many balls hard. It wasn’t our best effort.”
Jarvis is a 22-year-old right-hander who has produced middling numbers thus far in his four-year professional career. That included this season, coming into this game with a 5.35 earned run average.
But arguably the two best games he’s had have come against the Kernels. In June 2019, he pitched 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball, giving up three hits for the win.
He did even better here. Baseball’s a funny game sometimes.
OK, cliche number 1,000,002.
“He’s had our number a couple of times, I know,” Dinkelman said.
Seth Gray produced C.R.’s run with that aforementioned solo shot against Wisconsin relief pitcher Ronnie Baker. The Timber Rattlers (26-15) pulled within a game of the Kernels (27-14).
Starting pitcher Cade Povich threw well for Cedar Rapids, giving up just two hits in five-plus innings but still took the loss. The teams continue their six-game series Thursday night at 6:35.
Comments: (319)-398-8258, jeff.johnson@thegazette.com
