Michigan Battle Cats at Cedar Rapids Kernels
June 2nd, 2002
| Michigan |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
1 |
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0 |
3 |
0 |
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4 |
8 |
1 |
| Cedar Rapids |
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0 |
0 |
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1 |
2 |
0 |
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1 |
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1 |
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5 |
11 |
2 |
E-Hodges, Murphy, Woods, LOB MIC-8, CR-7, 2B-Checksfield, Lucas, Hodges, Mathis, Kotchman, Gorneault, SB-Hodges, Kimpton 2, CS-Conrad, SACB-Rodriguez
WP-Woods, Mozingo, SO-Rodriguez, Conrad, Mote, Checksfield, Lucas, Stegall, Kotchman 2, Turner 2, BB-Conrad, Checksfield, Shelf, Stegall, Kimpton
T-2:36, A-2,395
U-David Uyl, Brandon Leopoldus
Battle Creek Enquirer
The Cedar Rapids Kernels scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday night to defeat the visiting Michigan Battle Cats, 5-4 in Midwest League action.
Steve Checksfield had a two run double for Michigan (32-24), while also driving in runs for the Cats were Matt Lucas and Kerry Hodges.
Pitcher Greg Powell, in relief of starter Russ Rohlicek, suffered the loss on the Michigan mound.
Michigan, which also lost to Cedar Rapids on Saturday, 12-3 takes on the Kernels again tonight.
Cedar Rapdis Gazette
by Jeff Johnson
It's gotten to that point now. Even when the Cedar Rapids Kernels mess something up, they come out golden in the end.
Case in point was Sunday night's 5-4 win over the Michigan Battle Cats at Memorial Stadium.
The Kernels blew a three run lead in the eighth inning. That's no biggie these days.
Ransel Melgarejo's one out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth scored Nick Kimpton to give Cedar Rapids it's sixth straight victory.
The Kernels (31-24) remained 2 1/2 games behind leader Peoria in teh Western Division of the Midwest League but jumped four games up on Burlington and Wisconsin for second place and the final first half playoff spot in the division. Cedar Rapids has 14 first half games remaining.
"The way we're playing now as a team, we almost have that feeling where we go out there and no matter what happens, we've got this game." said Kimpton. "I really think we've got that feeling right now. And it's a great feeling to have."
Kimpton began the winning rally by working a one out walk from Michigan reliever Greg Powell (1-4), despite getting behind in the count early. The 18 year old Australian swiftly then stole second base, his second theft of the game.
That brought up leadoff hitter Melgarejo, who had singles in his previous three at bats. He made it a fine four with a single to center that scored Kimpton without a throw.
"Actually, I was seeing the ball really good today," Melgarejo said, "I was trying to stay back and go right back through the middle. That's what I've been working on lately. I've been in a slump, so I've just been trying to go back up the middle."
Melgarejo's slump numbers were a .148 batting average in his previous 17 games. He was even dropped to ninth in the Kernels batting order for Saturday's game against Michigan.
"He was just trying to do too much before," said Kernels Manager Todd Claus. "I think he got back to a real fundamental approach of trying to use the middle of the field. You're seeing a lot more of his hits going through the middle of the field and not rollovers to third and weak fly balls to right."
The late heroics allowed the Kernels to look past blowing a 4-1 lead. Michigan (32-24) used a couple of doubles, a walk and an error to come away with it's three tying eighth innings runs.
Joel Peralta (3-0) won yet again for Cedar Rapids in relief. It was his third win in five appearances, after not winning once in 41 games as a Kernel last season.
Jake Woods started for Cedar Rapids and went the first six innings, allowing five hits and a run.
He was helped out by several sparkling fielding plays, including a diving catch in center by Melgarejo and a nifty 3-6-3 double play started and ended by first baseman Casey Kotchman.
How They Scored
Bottom 4th
Casey Kotchamn doubled to left center to lead off against Michigan starting pitcher Russ Rohlicek. He went to third on Mike Eylward's groundout to second and scored on a fielder's choice grounder to short stop by Nick Gorneault.
Bottom 5th
Nick Kimpton reached on a one out infield single up the middle. He stole second and scored on Ransel Melgarejo's ensuing RBI single to center. Melgarejo went to third on a bunt and run single by Jeff Mathis. Mike Eylward's two out single to left scored Melgarejo.
Top 6th
Trevor Mote reached on a one out infield single to third against Kernels starting pitcher Jake Woods. Mote went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double down the third base line by Steve Checksfield.
Bottom 7th
Melgarejo singled to center with one out and scored on a Jeff Mathis double off the left field wall. Mathis went to third on the play on a throwing error by left fielder Kerry Hodges.
Top 8th
Brooks Conread reached against reliever Dan Mozingo on a leadoff walk. Conrad went to third when Mote reached on short stop Tommy Murphy's fielding error. A fielder's choice groundout by Checksfield scored Conrad and forced Mote at second. Checksfield went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Matt Lucas' RBI double past third. Lucas scored on Kerry Hodges' RBI double to left.
Bottom 9th
Nick Kimpton walked against reliever Greg Powell with one out. He stole second and scored on Melgarejo's RBI single to center.