Sox at Des Moines Series Results 
05/11/41: Chicago Black Sox @ Des Moines Kernels - Win, 9-5.
Multi-HR Game for Cochran in 9-5 Win
W: F. Brinson (2-2) L: M. Villarreal (0-1) .
HR - CHI: T. Cochran 2 (8)
05/12/41: Chicago Black Sox @ Des Moines Kernels - Win, 7-3.
Victory Pushes Black Sox Record to 22-15
W: P. Jaramillo (3-2) L: J. García (2-1) .
HR - CHI: M. Wareham (7), D. Dave (7), L. González (1)
05/13/41: Chicago Black Sox @ Des Moines Kernels - Loss, 1-3.
Kernels Score Late, Stun Black Sox, 3-1
W: F. Rodríguez (2-3) L: F. Brinson (2-3) S: J. Castro (10).
HR - CHI: R. Wattson (8) DM: W. Carter (3)
05/14/41: Chicago Black Sox @ Des Moines Kernels - Loss, 2-3.
Black Sox Come Up Short at Des Moines
W: J. Aguilar (3-0) L: J. Alfonzo (3-1) S: J. Castro (11).
HR – None
Game 1 Notables: DH Tommy Cochran made a compelling argument for more playing time with his performance in this game: 4-5 with two homers, a double, 2 runs scored and 7 RBIs. That last total tied the all-time Chicago regular season record for RBIs in a game. Cochran has been splitting time at DH with rookie Aarnoud Budding, who has been solid but unspectacular so far … Catcher Hotha Popo also had a big game, going 4-5 with one run and an RBI … Player of the Game: Tommy Cochran … Cliché of the Game: “Nice to see our side come away with the win,” Cochran said.
Game 2 Notables: SP Pepe Jaramillo was critical to this win, holding the Kernals in check while the offense did its thing. Jaramillo went 6.1 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 run, and 2 walks while striking out 4. His PQS score: 3 … Catcher Diesel Dave helped key the bats, going 2-4 with a 2-run homer … 1B Mark Simpson also had a nice day as he went 2-5 with a double and a run scored … Player of the Game: Pepe Jaramillo … Cliché of the Game: “If the personal accolades come, so be it,” said Diesel Dave. “I just want to win ballgames.” We’re not aware of that many personal accolades going your way, Diesel. But it’s nice that you like to win …
Game 3 Notables: The worm turned for Chicago’s week with this game, lost when struggling reliever Frits Brinson was victimized in the 8th inning for 5 hits and 2 runs … that “performance” wasted a decent starting effort by Juan Nicto, who went 6.1 innings, allowing 7 hits, 1 run, 2 walks and 3 Ks. PQS score: 2 … Player of the Game: Juan García, Des Moines SP, who pitched 6.2 innings and allowed 4 hits, 1 run and 2 walks while striking out 9. PQS score: 4 … Cliché of the Game: "We take it day by day here," said García, "and today was a good one for us." Perhaps the hoariest of sports clichés. Someone had to use it sooner or later, and this was the day.
Game 4: Here was another winnable game, this one lost in the 7th inning on a 2-out RBI single in the bottom of the 7th off normally-reliable Juan Alfonso … SP Manuel Peña pitched well enough to win most games, going 5.1 innings and allowing 4 hits, 2 runs and 0 walks. Unfortunately for him, this wasn’t most games … Player of the Game: Manuel Peña … Cliché of the Game: "Good pitching, clutch hitting," said Des Moines skipper Troy Coffman. "I can't complain." Good, because if you did complain … well, let’s just say “No fruit baskets for you!”
In Sum: This was a winnable series that the Sox, predictably, did not win. The bullpen, which was supposed to be an area of strength, has come up shaky. And the staff “Ace” – Amayas Moelling – has pitched like ass this season. To the point that manager Lucas Cadigon is going to give him a week or two in the bullpen pitching long relief to see if he can snap out of whatever funk he’s gotten himself into. Juan Nicto has righted his shaky start, but the Sox need Moelling to figure things out, too. The gods of baseball are still toying with the boys in black pinstripes …
