Kernel of Truth 64.22—Sixteen-to-two win over skimpily klad Krill is your Kernels kontest of the week

[JRamirez]

26 May 2064

The offense of the Des Moines Kernels hasn't been as potent so far this season as it has been in the previous years under JRamirez. Usually near the top of the pack in runs scored, the team is ranked at 9th; yet that number has been increasing. It was helped by scoring 30 runs in the four-game series at Hawaii. The series-closing 9-1 win gave the Kernels momentum going to the Atoll.

The team got her butt kicked there, losing three of four games. Des Moines got the sail knocked out of her winds when she lost the series-opener 7-4 in 10 innings; and she proceeded to lose the next game 10-1, on Denny Tabb's worst start of the season. In Game 3, however, the Kernels won 16-2, and this forms the Kernels Game-of-the-Week.

The club hit five home runs, two by second baseman Miguel Salazar (.294-9-26), two by catcher Terry Pitzer (.287-10-24), and one by FL player-of-the-week Jon Scaife (.247-15-30). First baseman Waffy Bishr (.293-8-25) added four hits. In all, the Heartland Heroes had 20 hits. Krill Nelson Williams (six runs allowed in the first inning and two thirds) was especially ineffective Saturday and got the loss. Three other Krill hurlers allowed three or more runs to score.

Des Moines 38-year-old starter José Barrón (5-5 3.21) collected the win, while swing man Raúl Castanelda 1-2 4.18), who has opened 11 games, finished his fourth. The two combined for 112 pitches, allowing seven hits, striking out nine. Pitzer drove in six runs, and Salazar five.

Twenty-one-year-old Jon Scaife won his second Player-of-Week nod by going 12-24, three blasts, and scoring eight times. He's projected for 50 home runs, 100 runs batted in, and 200 strike outs. Left fielder Ken'ichi Okubo had fourteen hits in the week and over the last two has raised his batting average from .207 to .271.

Des Moines (25-25) returns to the local Kum & Go and faces Portland (31-19) and Vancouver (30-20). The Kernels are 15-6 at home.

[ae37jr]

I like how your manager pinch hit Larkman in the eighth inning up 13-1. Instead of keeping the defensive minded Hernandez in CF. I'm sure the already kranky krill krowd loved that move.