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MWL1 Cedar Rapids Kernels

Duenas\' RBI single lifts Kernels to win in 10th, 4-3

September 5, 2004 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Tommy Duenas' RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted the Kernels past the West Michigan Whitecaps, 4-3, Sunday afternoon in a Midwest League baseball game played before a crowd of 2,958 at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The win was the Kernels' third straight in the series and matched their season high for consecutive wins at home. The Kernels are 35-33 at home.

Blake Balkcom led off the Kernels' 10th inning with a single to center and Warner Madrigal followed with a single to left. Duenas squared around as if to bunt and West Michigan put on a "wheel play," with the third baseman rushing the plate and the shortstop racing over to cover third base. Duenas pulled the his back and chopped a bouncer through the spot vacated by the shortstop. Balkcom slid around the tag at the plate with the winning run.

The win by the Kernels (33-36 second half, 75-63 overall) kept West Michigan's playoff hopes on hold. The Whitecaps (39-30, 68-70) lost their fourth straight game.

West Michigan was under the assumption that it had clinched a playoff berth before the series began. But an inquiry from Battle Creek to the Midwest League office clarified that the Whitecaps would be eliminated if they finish the second half tied with Battle Creek and Fort Wayne. The loss, coupled with wins by the aforementioned clubs, sliced West Michigan's lead over those two teams to one game with one game remaining in the regular season. If the Kernels beat West Michigan on Monday, and Fort Wayne and Battle Creek win their games, West Michigan is eliminated.

The teams combined for 26 hits Sunday, but 20 runners were left stranded.

West Michigan scored twice in the first inning, but the Kernels tied it in the bottom of the frame on a wild pitch and Balkcom's RBI single. West Michigan reclaimed the lead in then top of the second, 3-2. The Kernels knotted the score in the bottom of the third on Madrigal's RBI single.

Madrigal, who had been mired in a 2-for-20 slump, was 4-for-5. Howie Kendrick, battling for the Midwest League batting championship, was 3-for-4 in five plate appearances, boosting his batting average to .369. He is 45 plate appearances shy of having the minimum number of plate appearances, but his adjusted batting average, adding an 0-for-45 to his stats, puts his batting average at .3220. That puts him ahead of Peoria's Brendan Ryan, the league's official leader with a .3215 average.

Aaron Pullin (8-2) pitched two scoreless innings and picked up his first win since July 14.

NIBLETS – Monday is Fan Appreciation Day. Members of the class of 2004 will be honored before the game. It also is Toyota Reader Recognition Day. Iowa Office Supply is giving out 1,000 pennants, and Alliant Energy 2,000 hand fans. Myron Noodleman also will be on hand to entertain during the games. Fans can play catch on the field after the game. ... Kernels games can be heard on The Zone, ESPN Radio 1600 AM with John Rodgers.

Check out the Cedar Rapids Kernels Statistics



Midwest League Stories from September 5, 2004


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