South Bend SilverHawks at Cedar Rapids Kernels
May 31st, 2002
| South Bend |
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2 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
1 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
|
6 |
12 |
3 |
| Cedar Rapids |
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0 |
1 |
0 |
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0 |
3 |
0 |
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1 |
2 |
X |
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7 |
10 |
2 |
E-Hillinski, Hairston, Sikaras, Gorneault, Torres, LOB SB-9, CR-9, 2B-Hairston, Loeb, Vugteveen, Porter, Cahill, HR-Jacobo (Thomas), CS-Barrett, SACF-Mathis, SACB-Turner
WP-Sikaras, SO-Paredes, Nichols, Loeb 2, Vugteveen 2, Ball, Garcia, Turner 2, Kotchman, McPherson 2, Cahill, Melgarejo, BB-Hillinski, Haydel, Brand, Turner 2, Mathis, Kotchman, Cahill
T-3:20, A-3,588
U-Josh Miller, Todd Walters
South Bend Tribune
A gutsy comeback attempt fell just a little short for the South Bend Silver Hawks Friday night.
Trailing 7-3, the Hawks rallied for three runs in the ninth inning but it was not enough as Cedar Rapids held on for a 7-6 victory over South Bend in Midwest League baseball action.
A pinch hit, two run homer by Kervin Jacobo and an RBI double by Scott Hairston helped narrow the deficit to just a run. Reliever Adam Thomas of Cedar Rapids slammed the door and sent the Hawks to thier seventh straight defeat by fanning Dustin Vugteveen.
South Bend jumped off to a quick 2-0 lead in the opening frame and led 3-1 in the fifth when Cedar Rapids made it's move by tallying three runs against reliever Mike Garber.
The Kernels added another run in the seventh inning before tacking on two huge insurance runs in the eighth.
Hairston had three hits and two RBIs, while Bryan Loeb and Jeison Paredes added to hits apiece for the Hawks.
Cedar Rapids Gazette
by Jim Ecker
The smiles were everywhere Friday night.
In the stands, in the locker room, in the Kernels' front office.
This is why they spent $16 million for a ballpark in Cedar Rapids, so people could laugh and smile and have a great time.
The surging, Kernels clipped South Bend, 7-6, before 3,588 fans, the second largest crowd of the year. They came for the game, the fun, the postgame fireworks and the new park. And they went home happy.
The Kernels (29-24) swept the four game series for the South Bend Silver Hawks and climbed within 2 1/2 games of Peoria for first place in the Western Division of the Midwest League.
Fans stood, cheered and clapped rhythmically as Kernels reliever Adam Thomas fanned the final batter, quelling a three run South Bend rally in the ninth that almost spoiled the party.
Cedar Rapids manager Todd Claus was not amused when Mr. Shucks, the Kernels' mascot, pranced on the field with a broom after the Kernels swept the series. Claus wrestled the broom away from Mr. Shucks, snapped it across his knoee and tossed it angrily away.
Claus thought Mr. Shucks was embarrassing the Silver Hawks with his antics, so he decided to intervene.
"That's everything that we're not about," Claus said later, "We preach going about things the right way. It's about professionalism and respect. You don't show anybody up. I don't care who you are.
"That team (South Bend) fought hard and fought well. To me it's common sense. You treat people the way you want to be treated."
Claus said he asked Mr. Shucks, played last night by Mike Kibler of Cedar Rapids for the broom, but Shucks refused to hand it over. Claus grabbed Shucks with a headlock, grabbed the broom and snapped the wooden handle in two pieces.
"I asked for the broom. I said, Give it to me," Claus said, "Somehow it became a struggle, I said, Give me the broom, and threw in a few expletives."
Aside from the wrestling match between Claus and Shucks, it was a good night at the park.
"It was great," Said Cedar Rapids catcher Mike Napoli, "Any time we can get the crowd behind us, it's always great. We're starting to come around and play good ball right now."
The Kernels committed two errors in the first inning and fell behind, 2-0. They took a 4-3 lead in the fifth on a two run single by Dallas McPherson and expanded it to 7-3 in the eighth.
South Bend (19-34) made it exciting in the ninth, but the Kernels held on.
Cedar Rapids begins a four game series with Michigan tonight. The Battle Cats lead the Eastern Division.
"Now we're going to see a good club," Claus said, "We're going to see what we're made of in the next 16 games."
There are 16 games left in the first half of the of the Midwest League season. The Kernels will qualify for the playoffs if they win the first half title or finish second.
How They Scored
Top 1st
The Kernels committed two errors to start the game, helping South Bend scored two unearned runs. Rightfielder Nick Gorneault dropped a deep fly ball in the sun and pitcher Joe Torres muffed a toss at first.
Bottom 2nd
Greg Porter led off with a double to left center, advancing to third on a single by Gorneault and scored on a double play.
Top 5th
Jeison Paredes reached on a one out single, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on an RBI single by Scott Hairston.
Bottom 5th
Gorenault reached on an infield error and scored on a double to left by Jon Cahill. The Kernels loaded the bases with two outs and Dallas McPherson slapped a two run single to left for the lead.
Bottom 7th
Ransel Melgarejo singled and advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw by the pitcher. He scored on a throwing error by the third baseman.
Bottom 8th
Justin Turner walked with the basesloaded, forcing in Nick Kimpton. Jeff Mathis lined a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Gorneault.
Top 9th
Kervin Jacobo hit a two run, pinch hit homer. Scott Hairston doubled and Bryan Loeb delievered a two out RBI single, making it 7-6. Adam Thomas struck out Dustin Vugteveen to end the game.