August 2012
This date in Kernels alumni history – August 31, 1995 – Paul O’Neill (Cedar Rapids Reds – 1982)
On August 31, 1995, Paul O’Neill (Cedar Rapids Reds – 1982) went 4-5 at the plate with three HR and eight RBI as the Yankees defeated the Angels 11-6.
Paul O’Neill hit .288 with 281 HR and 1269 RBI during his 17 year MLB career playing for the Reds and Yankees. He won the American League batting title in 1994 with a .359 batting average. O’Neill was selected to five All-Star teams and was a member of six World Series teams earning five championship rings.
Paul O’Neill hit .272 with 8 HR and 71 RBI in 116 games as the 1982 Cedar Rapids Reds finished 61-79 under manager Randy Davidson.
Kaleb Cowart (2012) and Randal Grichuk (2010-11) among eight Kernels alumni selected to Arizona Fall League squads
Kaleb Cowart (2012) and Randal Grichuk headline the list of eight former Kernels selected to play for the Scottsdale Scorpions in this years Arizona Fall League. Buddy Boshers (2009-10), Ryan Chaffee (2009), Kevin Johnson (2011), Carlos Ramirez (2010-11) and Travis Witherspoon (2011) join Cowart and Grichuk on the Scorpions roster. Johnny Hellweg (2009-10) will represent the Milwaukee Brewers playing for the Phoenix Desert Dogs.
This date in Kernels history – August 30, 2005 – Fernando Rodriguez
On August 30, 2005, Fernando Rodriguez worked 7 2/3 shutout innings as the Kernels defeated the Swing of the Quad Cities 1-0. Rodriguez struck out nine while allowing five hits and two walks.
Fernando Rodriguez went 8-10 with a 4.18 E.R.A. and four complete games in 28 starts for Cedar Rapids in 2005. Rodriguez struck out 128 batters in 157 1/3 innings of work. Cedar Rapids finished the season with a 65-75 record under manager Bobby Magallanes.
Fernando Rodriguez made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on May 2, 2009. He signed a free agent contract with the Houston Astros prior to the 2011 season. Rodriguez posted a 2-3 record with a 3.96 E.R.A. in 47 games out of the Astros bullpen last season. He struck out 60 batters in 56 inning of work. Rodriguez is 1-8 with a 5.57 E.R.A. in 58 appearances this season for the Astros.
This is my 8th season (2005-present) working as the stadium operations guy here with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. I will be reminiscing the best performances by the Kernels during my tenure to add to my This Date in Kernels Alumni History features this year.
This date in Kernels alumni history – August 30, 1988 – Rob Deer (Cedar Rapids Giants – 1979)
On August 30, 1988, Rob Deer (Cedar Rapids Giants – 1979) went 3-4 at the plate with two HR, a double, five RBI and scored a pair of runs as the Brewers defeated the Blue Jays 6-2 at County Stadium.
Rob Deer hit .220 with 230 HR and 600 RBI during his 11 season career playing for the Giants, Brewers, Tigers, Red Sox and Padres.
Rob Deer hit .209 with 1 HR and 16 RBI in 29 games as the 1979 Cedar Rapids Giants finished 58-78 under manager Wayne Cato.
This date in Kernels history – August 29, 2010 – Randal Grichuk
On August 29, 2010, Randal Grichuk went 2-4 at the plate with a HR, two RBI and scored a pair of runs as the Cedar Rapids Kernels defeated the Quad Cities River Bandits 5-2. Randal Grichuk hit .292 with 19 doubles, 7 HR and 36 RBI in 52 games during the 2010 season for the Kernels. Cedar Rapids finished the season with a 82-56 record under manager Bill Mosiello. The Kernels lost to Clinton in the first round of the Midwest League Playoffs. Grichuk returned to play in 32 games for the 2011 Kernels squad hitting .230 with 2 HR and 13 RBI. Cedar Rapids finished the 2011 season with a 61-78 record under manager Brent Del Chiaro.
Randal Grichuk hit .283 with 4 doubles, 1 HR and 6 RBI for the Inland Empire 66ers (Hi-A) in 14 games after being promoted in 2011. Grichuk is hitting .290 with 27 doubles, 9 triples, 17 HR and 66 RBI for the Inland Empire 66ers in 2012.
This is my 8th season (2005-present) working as the stadium operations guy here with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. I will be reminiscing the best performances by the Kernels during my tenure to add to my This Date in Kernels Alumni History features this year.
This date in Kernels alumni history – August 29, 2003 – Bengie Molina (Cedar Rapids Kernels – 1994-95)
On August 29, 2006, Bengie Molina (Cedar Rapids Kernels – 1994-95) went 3-4 at the plate with a HR, five RBI and scored a run as the Angels defeated the Royals 10-3.
Bengie Molina hit .274 with 144 HR and 711 RBI during his 14 year career playing for the Angels, Blue Jays, Giants and Rangers.
Bengie Molina was a member of the 1994 and 1995 Cedar Rapids Kernels teams. In 1994, Molina hit .281 with 3 HR and 16 RBI in 48 games as the Kernels finished 77-62 under manager Tom Lawless. Molina and the Kernels defeated Springfield in two straight games in the opening round tand then topped Rockford taking three of four games to win the 1994 Midwest League Championship.
In 1995, Molina hit .293 with 4 HR and 17 RBI in 39 games before earning a promotion as the team finished in 3rd place with a…
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This date in Kernels history – August 28, 2009 – Tyler Chatwood
On August 28, 2009, Tyler Chatwood allowed three runs in six innings of work as the Cedar Rapids Kernels defeated the Peoria Chiefs 8-3. Chatwood struck out five while walking two and allowing four hits to earn the victory.
Tyler Chatwood posted an 8-7 record with a 4.02 ERA in 24 starts for the 2009 Cedar Rapids Kernels. Chatwood struck out 106 batters in 116 1/3 innings of work and was selected to the mid-season Midwest League All-Star squad. Cedar Rapids finished the season with a 78-60 record under manager Bill Mosiello. The Kernels topped Peoria in the first round of the Midwest League Playoffs before falling to Burlington in the semifinals.
Tyler Chatwood made his MLB debut on April 11, 2011 versus the Cleveland Indians. Chatwood went 6-11 with a 4.75 ERA starting 25 games in his rookie season this year. He struck out 74 batters in 142 innings of work. On November 30, 2011, the Colorado Rockies traded Chris Iannetta to the Los Angeles Angels to acquire Chatwood. Chatwood has posted a 3-3 record with a one save and a 4.98 E.R.A. in 12 appearances with the Rockies in 2012. He has struck out 20 in 34 1/3 innings of work. Chatwood has a career record of 9-14 with a 4.80 E.R.A. in two seasons playing for the Angels and Rockies.
This is my 8th season (2005-present) working as the stadium operations guy here with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. I will be reminiscing the best performances by the Kernels during my tenure to add to my This Date in Kernels Alumni History features this year.
This date in Kernels alumni history – August 28, 1926 – Dutch Levsen (Cedar Rapids Bunnies – 1923)
On August 28, 1926, Dutch Levsen (Cedar Rapids Bunnies – 1923) became the last player in MLB history to pitch complete game victories in both ends of a doubleheader leading the Cleveland Indians to a 6-1 win with a four hitter in game one. He followed that with a 5-1 win in game two over the Boston Red Sox once again scattering four hits throughout the game. Levsen had a career year in 1926 posting a 16-13 record with a 3.41 ERA.
Dutch Levsen finished his career with a 21-26 record and a 4.17 ERA during his six year career playing for the Cleveland Indians. Levsen
Dutch Levsen, a Wyoming, IA native, attended Iowa State University prior to becoming a member of the 1923 Cedar Rapids Bunnies team. Levsen went 19-4 in 25 games as the Bunnies finished 69-56 under manager Bill Speas to finish 3rd in the Mississippi Valley…
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This date in Kernels alumni history – August 27, 1966 – Dick Kelley (Cedar Rapids Braves)
On August 27, 1966, Dick Kelley (Cedar Rapids Braves – 1959, 1961) pitched a complete game shutout to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 3-0 win over the New York Mets. Kelley struck out six batters while allowing two hits and two walks.
Dick Kelley posted a 18-30 mark with a 3.39 ERA during his seven year MLB career playing for the Milwaukee Braves, Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres.
Dick Kelley was a member of the 1959 and 1961 Cedar Rapids Braves teams. In 1959, Kelley went 0-0 with a 7.00 ERA in 4 games as the Braves finished 53-73 under manager Alex Monchak. In 1961, Kelley posted a record of 15-5 with a 2.42 ERA in 24 starts as the team finished in 2nd place with a mark of 73-57 under manager James Brown.
Orioles acquire Joe Saunders (2002) in exchange for Matt Lindstrom and cash
The Baltimore Orioles have traded Matt Lindstrom and cash to the Arizona Diamondbacks to acquire Joe Saunders (2002). Saunders had posted a 6-10 record with a 4.22 E.R.A. in 21 starts for Arizona this season. Saunders was acquired along with Patrick Corbin (2010), Tyler Skaggs (2010) and Rafael Rodriguez (2003-05) from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for Dan Haren on July 25, 2010. Saunders has compiled a 75-62 career MLB record with a 4.17 E.R.A. in eight season pitching for the Angels and Diamondbacks.
Joe Saunders was part of the 2002 Kernels team that finished 3rd with a mark of 81-58 under manager Todd Claus. The 2002 team swept Quad Cities in the opening round of the playoffs before falling to Peoria in the second round. Saunders was 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA in five starts for the Kernels. He struck out 27 batters in 28 2/3 innings of work.
Seth Dohrn
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