Kernels’ LeBlanc keeps winning, now as a starter

CEDAR RAPIDS - The guy leads the Cedar Rapids Kernels in pitching victories despite being a reliever all season, so there was no reason for those winning ways to disappear with a role change.

Randy LeBlanc got his first start Sunday afternoon and guaranteed another with five one-hit innings in a 4-0 shutout of Bowling Green before 2,164 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Hard to believe, but that's the 12th decision the big Louisianan has had and the eighth win in 29 appearances.

'I've been getting some out of the pen, kind of stealing them from the starter,” LeBlanc said with a laugh. 'I'm sure I'll get some stolen from me soon.”

The idea to try and convert the 23-year-old righty came from Kernels pitching coach Henry Bonilla. LeBlanc (he doesn't pronounce the ‘c' in his last name) started in college at Tulane, overcoming Tommy John elbow surgery in 2011.

He's got a starter's mix: a low to mid-90s fastball, a slider and changeup. But there have been so many other solid starting candidates around, it took this long for him to get an opportunity.

'It's something Henry has been talking about all year,” said LeBlanc, a 10th-round draft choice of the parent Minnesota Twins last year. 'Just with the front office, I know they talked about it in spring training. They weren't sure what we were going to do at the beginning of the year. I started off the year in relief, but Henry's told me all year to be ready, I might be in the rotation at some point, you never know when. He told me a couple of days ago I was in.

'I was happy with that decision. I started all through college. I think I'm more comfortable as a starter, to be honest with you. We'll see what happens.”

LeBlanc has had relief appearances of four innings and threw around 60 pitches Sunday, a number he hopes he'll be allowed to increase to 80 or so in his next start. No one got any further than first base against him, as he walked three, struck out two and picked out 11 outs on the ground.

'Innings-wise, he's in good shape, being in the bullpen all year,” said Kernels Manager Jake Mauer. 'That was Henry's great idea to start him. He's probably one of the bullpen guys who's got three pitches to where he's got the ability to start.”

The Kernels improved to a season-best 19 games above .500 overall (66-47), with Ethan Mildren and Yorman Landa finishing up a five-hitter. Third baseman T.J. White hit his first home run, two days after shortstop Nick Gordon got his.

Outfielder Chris Paul (no, not the Los Angeles Clippers guard) picked up his first Cedar Rapids hit. A sixth-round draft pick in 2015 out of the University of California, he joined the club Sunday from Rookie-level Elizabethton, where he was hitting .302.

First baseman Tyler Kuresa was given his outright release by the Twins. He hit .204 in 56 games for the Kernels, who have Monday off, then a six-game road trip to Lake County and Fort Wayne.

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