Kernels' Roach adjusting well to bullpen, notches third win

CEDAR RAPIDS - If Donn Roach pitches every day, the Cedar Rapids Kernels are golden.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels have three wins this season, and they all belong to the relief pitcher. He was the beneficiary of a two-run eighth inning that lifted he and his club past Wisconsin Wednesday night, 6-4, before 932 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

“Right place, right time, I guess,” Roach said.

It's not as if the right-hander hasn't deserved these tangible results, throwing 6 1/3 shutout innings in three games. The 21-year-old righty from Las Vegas is making the adjustment from starting in college (at the Junior College of Southern Nevada) and most of last season in Rookie pro ball to coming out of the bullpen.

He's making the adjustment well, obviously, throwing three impressive innings last night, striking out four. The Kernels (3-4) tied the game with four runs in the sixth and won it on a Ricky Alvarez RBI single and run-scoring passed ball.

Do the math, by the way, and Roach is on pace for 60 victories this season. Not bad.

“It's been impressive what he's done,” said Kernels Manager Brent Del Chiaro. “He's been our most consistent pitcher ... He's coming in and throwing strikes with all three pitches. And that's the biggest key. He doesn't get behind in the count, he's attacking hitters, and then he's putting them away.”

“I threw close to 180 last season between junior college and the pros,” Roach said. “I had some arm trouble at the end of the season, so (the Angels) just want me to get through this season healthy. They want me to come out of the pen and see what happens.”

Anaheim drafted Roach out of high school in 2008, but he did not sign. As a matter of fact, negotiations between the Angels and the Roach family turned sour at the end.

But he called then scouting director Eddie Bane before last year's draft to say there were no hard feelings. The Angels then drafted him in the supplemental third round.

“I guess (the e-mail) worked,” Roach said with a smile.

The teams conclude their four-game series Thursday night at 6:35.

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