Lots of turnover in Kernels roster

CEDAR RAPIDS – Chris Mazza is one tough dude.

The new/old Cedar Rapids Kernels relief pitcher threw the final month-plus of last season with a broken wrist. Yeah, honestly.

Mazza was in the basement of his billet familly's house last July when a storm knocked the power out. He came upstairs to get a flashlight, tripped on the steps, put his hands down to catch himself and snap went the scaphoid bone in his right wrist.

It was painful but not too much. Not enough to stop him from throwing.

'You get that adrenaline going when you are pitching,” Mazza said, before his team's 5-2 victory over Burlington last night at Memorial Stadium. 'I was working with my dad in the offseason (masonry), finally things slowed down a little bit with that, and I just kind of said to myself ‘This still kind of bugs me.' So I went and got it checked out.”

The Northern California resident actually saw a San Francisco Giants team doctor, who diagnosed him. He had surgery in November and has just now gotten back to the point where he can pitch in games.

He was activated from the Kernels' disabled list Wednesday.

'I didn't want to wait any longer, so I had surgery to take it out. I've got a screw in there right now, and I'll probably have it the rest of my life,” Mazza said. 'There are things I can't do. I still can't do a push up … But it's good. My velo is back. Everything is good.”

Mazza is part of a roster overhaul from the last time the Kernels played a home game a week ago. Third baseman T.J. White was promoted last week to advanced-Class A Fort Myers and replaced by 2015 draft pick Sean Miller.

Pitcher Zack Tillery was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with a calf strain, while reliever Brandon Bixler was released by the parent Minnesota Twins. Catcher-infielder Brett Doe was shipped to Fort Myers on Wednesday, with catcher-infielder J.J. Fernandez DLed with a broken hand (incurred after punching a wall in frustration during Sunday's game at Kane County).

First baseman Tyler Kuresa returns from Rookie-level Elizabethton, with Mazza and fellow reliever Yorman Landa activated from the disabled list. Landa has been on the Kernels roster these past two seasons but has been limited to 14 appearances because of injury.

'A lot of changes,” Kernels Manager Jake Mauer said. 'It creates opportunities. Guys like Sean Miller, a new guy from the draft, gets a chance. Tyler Kuresa comes back. We'll find out what we've got, what they can do. Hopefully they'll jump right in and give us a little lift.”

Cedar Rapids still is one player shy of maximum (24), with Mauer saying it'll probably remain that way for the next week.

The Kernels (53-37, 12-8) scored four very unearned runs in the seventh to rally.

Two Burlington errors elongated the inning, with Nick Gordon and Edgar Corcino producing RBI singles and Rafael Valera a two-run single. Valera went 4-for-4 with three runs batted in.

Landa (1-0) struck out three in his only inning of work and got the win. Starting pitcher Felix Jorge got a no decision despite pitching six innings of three-hit ball.

He has thrown at least six in his past 13 starts and 14 of his 15 this season. The teams play again Thursday night at 6:35.

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