Kernels lose regular-season finale, catcher Navarreto hurt on HBP

CEDAR RAPIDS - It doesn't matter if you win or lose, just don't get anyone hurt.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels did indeed drop their meaningless Midwest League regular-season finale Monday afternoon to Clinton, 6-2, at Veterans Memorial Stadium, and didn't abide by that latter thing, either.

Catcher Brian Navarreto took a pitch to his left hand in the sixth inning and had to leave, helped off the field by trainer Curtis Simondet. He insisted he was fine postgame, however, with a scraped-up knuckle the only evidence he had been nailed.

'Nothing broken, nothing to worry about,” Navarreto said. 'I'm all right.”

The best defensive catcher in the MWL, according to Baseball America magazine and just about anyone who has seen him play, it would be a huge loss if Navarreto can't go in Wednesday night's playoff opener against Quad Cities. He threw out 57 percent of would-be basestealers this season, including one Monday.

He helps negate the opposition's running game.

'We'll see what he looks like tomorrow,” said Kernels Manager Jake Mauer, who, it has been announced, will join the parent Minnesota Twins once the season here is complete. 'If he has the Frankenstein hand going, then we'll probably have to go a different route. Our playoff roster doesn't have to be in until Wednesday morning, so if his hand is too swollen, then we're going to get somebody (else) in here.”

Shortstop Nick Gordon also was a late lineup scratch Monday, though, that's nothing to worry about. Game 1 of the CR-QC playoff series is 6:35 Wednesday night at Memorial Stadium. The best-of-3 series shifts to Davenport for Game 2 on Thursday night, with an if-needed Game 3 Friday.

'Quad Cities is a good club, no doubt about it,” Mauer said. 'But I think we've got a good club, too.”

Good enough anyway to finish with a 77-63 record. That includes 36-34 in the second half.

Clinton was able to avoid tying the franchise record for most losses in a season, though the LumberKings still finished with a league-worst 46-93 overall record. Burt Reynolds homered leading off the eight inning against losing pitcher Randy Rosario (2-6) for what turned out to be the winning run.

Rosario actually was nicked for four runs that frame in a tuneup relief appearance. He will get a start if Cedar Rapids is able to knock off Quad Cities and advance to the Western Division finals.

Kernels relief pitcher Jared Wilson was honored pregame by the Twins with the Harmon Killebrew Award for his commitment to local community events and appearances.

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