Kane County ends Kernels’ season

GENEVA, Ill. - They got more than they ever could have asked from their newbie emergency starting pitcher, but it still wasn't enough for the Cedar Rapids Kernels to save their 2014 season.

Carlos Penalver, of all people, hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning as Kane County completed a two-game Western Division finals sweep of the Kernels with a 4-2 win Sunday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.

That's not meant to knock Penalver, who is considered to have one of the best shortstop gloves in the league. It's just that the guy hit a paltry .211 in just under 500 at-bats in the regular season, including one long ball.

Not exactly who you'd pick to beat Cedar Rapids, but there's a reason Kane County led the minors with 91 regular-season wins, and it's not just outstanding pitching. The Cougars have had a penchant for getting the big hit.

'It was a hit and run, and he just got the barrel to the ball,” said Cedar Rapids first baseman Chad Christensen. 'Not the guy you'd think would hit it out, but that's the way it goes sometimes.”

'Unbelieveable,” said Kernels Manager Jake Mauer. 'He couldn't get the sacrifice bunt down and ends up hitting his second home run of the season. But that's kind of the way they've done it. They've got a lot of talent, obviously, and they've had several guys help them win a lot of games.”

Jacob Rogers homered the other way to left field against losing relief pitcher Jared Wilson in the sixth inning to put Kane County on top, but Christensen's no-doubter blast to left against Tyler Ihrig in the top of the seventh gave the Kernels a 2-1 lead. It seemed an appropriate clutch knock for the former Cedar Rapids Washington prep, who had a fine season back home.

'I've felt pretty comfortable off lefties,” Christensen said. 'He just threw a first-pitch changeup, and I put a good swing on it.”

Before you could think about a winner-take-all Monday Game 3, though, Chesny Young walked against Wilson to lead off the bottom of the seventh and Penalver went yard to left. Kane County added an insurance run in the eighth, and that was enough.

The Kernels did get the leadoff man on in the ninth against Ihrig, on a Penalver error, but he got an out, then Francisco Carrillo came on to strike out Christensen and Max Murphy. Kane County will play Lake County in the best-of-five Midwest League championship series, beginning Tuesday.

John Curtiss, who was shipped Saturday to the Kernels from Rookie-ball, made his first Class A start memorable, throwing five one-hit shutout innings. The right-hander, a 2014 sixth-round draft pick of the Twins from the University of Texas, was called upon to replace the injured Lewis Thorpe.

'He was really good,” Mauer said. 'Aggresssive, using his offspeed pitches. He was unafraid.”

Unfortunately, Kane County starter Paul Blackburn was just as good as Curtiss, also throwing five one-hit shutout innings. This game fit the pattern of the Kernels' previous four playoff games, all well-pitched and tight.

Counting playoffs, the Kernels finished with a 75-70 record. Cedar Rapids' last MWL championship remains in 1994.

'It has been a fun season,” Mauer said. 'You always hope you are better at the end of the year than when you started. Wins and losses are nice and obviously make the summer a lot more fun. Getting a chance to play in the playoffs is a good experience for these guys. It prepares them for when they move on and hopefully eventually play in the playoffs in the big leagues.

'I know it hurts now because it's fresh. But it's like I told them, nobody should hang their heads. They accomplished a lot.”

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@sourcemedia.net