Article: Twins Minor League Playoff Report (9/9): Kernels Pop Quad Cities in Opener

[Jeremy Nygaard]

The early Wednesday headlines belonged to Jose Berrios and Max Kepler for being named to Baseball America's Minor-League All-Star team. By Wednesday evening, the focus shifted to the Cedar Rapids Kernels, as they began the Midwest League Playoffs.Cedar Rapids 5, Quad Cities 2

Kernels lead series 1-0

Box Score

 

Cedar Rapids jumped to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Rafael Valera drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on Nick Gordon's second single of the game. Edgar Corcino flew out and Nick Gordon was doubled off first base, leaving Valera on second base with one out. T.J. White followed that up with a single, and an error advanced White to second while Valera remained on third. Alex Real followed with the third single of the inning and both Valera and White came around to score, White on a nifty slide that avoided the catcher's tag. He had to dive back from behind the plate to touch home safely to beat the tag by the catcher. After a Max Murphy pop out, the Kernels had the first lead of the series.

 

Quad Cities came right back in the fourth to tie the game after stringing together three singles around two sacrifices.

 

The 2-2 tie lasted only four batters. Nick Gordon hit a sacrifice fly to score Brian Navarreto, who had singled and advanced to third on a Rafael Valera double. Quad Cities avoided additional damage by getting Valera out at third base.

 

The score would stay 3-2 until the Kernels were able to add an insurance run in the 6th inning with the aid of two wild pitches after Chris Paul singled to reach base. Cedar Rapids tacked on another run in the next frame when Nick Gordon doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by T.J. White and an error.

 

Nick Gordon was the offensive star on Wednesday night. Four productive plate appearances, three that resulted in hits and a fourth that drove in a run.

 

As good as Gordon was offensively, Felix Jorge might have been just as good on the mound. Jorge, after issuing a walk, exited the game to a roaring standing ovation with one out in the 8th. He had allowed nine hits, a walk and two runs while striking out seven.

 

Luke Bard issued a walk to put two runners on, but escaped the eighth inning without damage. Nick Anderson faced the minimum in the ninth, earning the save with the help of a double play to seal the win.

 

The opening victory was witnessed by 1,552.

 

The Kernels will finish this quarterfinals series - one way or another - on the road as they travel to Quad Cities for Game 2 on Thursday night. Sam Gibbons will be on the mound for the 7pm CST game, looking to clinch the series. If needed, the deciding Game 3 will be played Friday night.

 

Thursday also marks the beginning of the Southern League semifinals. The Chattanooga Lookouts will begin a best of five-game series with the Montgomery Biscuits. The first two games will be in Chattanooga with the series shifting to Montgomery for it's completion.

 

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[Monkeypaws]

Yay Felix!

[DocBauer]

The picture is of Jorge yes?

 

Did he lie about his age? He looks all of 16!

 

Maybe I'm just getting that much older.

 

Good on him. Great performance. Great year.

[Guest]

Yes, that’s Felix and his slender frame does give him a much younger look. Up close, though, I think he’s more mature looking when you talk to him.

 

I just want to touch more on that ovation that Jeremy referenced when he left.

Typically, minor league crowds are there for the social aspect of going to games. As a result, most of the time when a pitcher is removed and walks to the dugout, he might get a smattering of polite applause (if that much).

 

Playoff games are not typically as well attended as regular season games. There are a lot of reasons for that, but the good thing is that people who do show up for playoff games are often there more for the game than the social aspect.

 

Whatever the reason, the ovation as Jorge left the mound Wednesday was among the loudest I’ve heard for a pitcher in CR. The crowd clearly had been paying attention and understood what a terrific game Jorge threw. He almost seemed a little taken aback by it himself as he took his hat off and held it in his hands as he walked to the dugout.

 

Anyway, I thought it was a pretty cool moment.

 

Also, as Jeff Johnson of the Gazette pointed out in a tweet later, Jorge has come a long way this season in terms of doing interviews in English. He is far from fluent, but he will try hard to converse with you and answer questions in more of a conversational manner.

 

It’s been a pleasure covering him this summer and I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops going forward.

[MplsFan]

What's the best way to follow the Lookouts' game tonight? Looks like the final three games in Montgomery will be on milb.tv but not tonight's yame.