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MWL1 Cedar Rapids Kernels

Howell's heroics can't lift Kernels past Cougars

May 20, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


The first place Kane County Cougars handed the Kernels a 4-0 loss at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday night in front of 2,958 fans during the opening game of a four game series. Cedar Rapids falls to 20-23 on the year while the Cougars improve to a Western Division-best 24-18.

Chris Howell pitched four innings of scoreless relief after taking over for injured starter Kelly Shearer (1-5) in the second after Shearer left the game with what was described as a "heavy arm." The Kernels right-hander surrendered just two hits over his four innings of work and struck out a season-high six Cougars.

Offense was hard to come by for the Kernels as they managed just 7 hits off Cougars starter Vince Mazzaro (4-4) and reliever T. J. Franco. Mazzaro, a third round pick of the Oakland Athletics in last June's draft, struck out four over seven innings of work while walking just one.

Kane County got the only run it would need in the third when Mike Massaro drew a leadoff walk from Shearer. Howell, who entered the game with a 1-1 count on Nick Blasi, uncorked a wild pickoff throw to first that allowed Massaro to move to second where he promptly scored on a double off the bat of Jeff Baisley.

The Kernels threatened in the fourth when Hainley Statia reached third base with no outs but Dallas Morris grounded sharply to third where Baisley threw to second to erase Jordan Renz. Isaac Omura then threw home to nail Statia at the plate for the second out of a 5- 4-2 double play.

Statia was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate to raise his average to .284. Brett Martinez, Flint Wipke, Brad Coon, and Renz also had hits for the Kernels.

The Cougars added two runs in the seventh off reliever Tim Didjurgis before Justin Sellers capped the Kane County offensive attack with a solo homer off Rafael Cruz in the ninth inning.

The loss marks the fifth time this season the Kernels have failed to score at lease one run in a setback. It also knocks the team another game off the race for first place as Cedar Rapids fell four and a half games off the Cougars' pace.

The two teams will square off again on Sunday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Stadium with Kernels right-hander Stephen Marek (4-1, 2.25) facing Kane County righty Jeff Gray (2-4, 7.54). The 2 p.m. contest will be another KDAT Family Fun Day at the stadium with $1 popcorn all game long, a pre-game autograph session with the Kernels, and the chance to run the bases and play catch on the field after the game.

Check out the Cedar Rapids Kernels Statistics



Midwest League Stories from May 20, 2006


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