Michigan Battle Cats at Cedar Rapids Kernels
June 4th, 2002
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E-Shell, LOB MIC-4, CR-2, 2B-Stegall, McPherson, Gorneault, HR-Eylward (Burns), CS-Porter, HBP-Likely, Eylward
HB-Burns, Shell, SO-Checksfield, Mote, Lucas, Hodges 2, Rodriguez, Turner 3, Mathis, Porter, Napoli 2, Cahill, BB-Gorneault, Eylward
T-1:56, A-1,929
David Uyl, Brandon Leopoldus
Battle Creek Enquirer
The Cats ended an unusual eight game road trip Tuesday night with a 4-4 record.
It was unusual, because Michigan swept Quad City in the opening series and then got swept by Cedar Rapids including Tuesday's 3-1 Kernels victory.
The Cats return home to face Clinton tonight with the world famous San Diego Chicken on hand to greet them back.
The Kernels scored all their runs on Tuesday with two outs to extended their winning streak to eight games. They have won 14 of their last 17 games.
The Cats fell out of a first place tie in the Eastern Divison with the loss.
The Cats got on the board in the eighth on a lead off double by Ryan Stegall and a two out RBI single by Cameron Likely.
Kernels starter Steve Shell (6-1) retired 14 straight Cats at one point in the game.
Cats starter Mike Burns (4-5) went six innings. He allowed four hits and three runs (all earned) while walking one and striking out five.
Cedar Rapids Gazette
by Jeff Johnson
Four very good Cedar Rapids pitchers were named Tuesday to the upcoming Midwest League All Star game.
Steven Shell wasn't one of them.
Despite having a good earned run average in the middle threes and leading the Kernels and ranking among the league leaders with six victories, the 19 year old right hander didn't recieve a trip to Lansing, Michigan, in a couple of weeks.
He sure resembled an all star caliber pitcher Tuesday night in helping his team to a 3-1 victory over the Michigan Battle Cats at Memorial Stadium.
It was the eighth win in a row for the Kernels (33-24) who completed a perfect eight game homestand and stand only 1 1/2 games behind leader Peoria in the MWL's Western Division.
"We have a great staff," Shell said, "It's really difficult to make the all star team when you have the pitchers we've got on this team. All the guys that are going to the all star game deserve to go."
But mayne so does Shell, who threw superb four hit baseball over eight innings. No Kernels starter had gone more than seven plus.
Showing good command, Shell, who walked no one and struck out four in a 110 pitch outing, retired 14 Battle Cats in a row at one point. His bid for a shutout ended when Cameron Likely hit a two out RBI single in the eighth.
All star selectee Jonathan Rouwenhorst became the seventh different Kernels to record a save this season by pitching a perfect ninth.
"I was locating my fastball real good tonight," said Shell (6-1). "I was getting my curveball over, and I was pounding hitters inside all night."
"Outstanding, professional," summed up Kernels manager Todd Claus, "He had two plus pitches and he pitched inside that was the key."
The Kernels (33-24), who beat three all star Michigan pitchers in this series, weren't real potent offensively with only four hits. But it was enough.
Mike Eylward touched starer Mike Burns (4-5) for a solo home run to left with two outs in the bottom of the second. Another two out rally in the fourth was culminated by Greg Porter's huge two run single to right with the bases loaded.
"I just tried to relax," said Porter, whose hit came on a 3-1 Burns pitch, "I knew I was going to get a pitch to hit because he was behind in the count."
How They Scored
Bottom 2nd
Mike Eylward hit a solo home run against Michigan starter Mike Burns with two outs.
Bottom 4th
Dallas McPherson doubled to left with two outs. Nick Gorneault walks and Eylward wa hit by a pitch to load the bases. Greg Porter followed with a two run single to right, scoring McPherson and Gorneault.
Top 8th
Ryan Stegall led off with a double against Kernels starter Steven Shell. He scored on Cameron Likely's line drive single to right center.