Alliman hits 10-grand slam for Kernels
September 1st, 2010 | Published in Kernels
There are grand slams, then there’s what Terrell Alliman hit Wednesday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Call it a 10-grand slam.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels outfielder capped off an 11-run fifth inning with a granny that helped his team to a 15-3 win over the Burlington Bees. This just happened to be the final Winning Wednesday of the season, and, yes, it was a winner.
The two-year-old promotion pays off $10,000 to a lucky fan if the Kernels achieve a particular feat in an inning. Last night’s fifth-inning feat was a grand slam.
That’s where Alliman comes in. Mike Schweitzer of Cedar Rapids was watching the game with a bunch of buddies and had his name randomly drawn by Kernels General Manager Jack Roeder as the grand winner of this 10-grand slam.
“Holy (cow!),” Schweitzer said, moments after learning of his payday. “Did I know I could (win)? Yeah. But you never think you will. What are the odds of this? Pretty cool.”
The Kernels (77-56) actually had seven chances at the 10-grand slam, as Burlington (43-88) pitchers Rodolfo Encarnacion and Starling De La Rosa continually walked guys with the bases loaded. It was literally a merry-go-round on the bases, one that Alliman ended with a long driver over the porch in left.
“Heck, I don’t care,” Schweitzer said, when asked if he was going to buy a celebratory round for the house of 1,713. “Set ‘em up.”
Someone set up Alliman, too. Kane County apparently has a similar promotion that paid off this season, with the player hitting the grand slam being slipped a check by the club for $1,000.
Alliman isn’t expecting that. But how about a little something for the effort?
“I know. Shoot. How about something?” Alliman said with a smile. “No love, man. No love.”
The Kernels won for just the third time in 11 games, though it came at a price considering shortstop Jon Karcich was hit in the head by a pitch in the fourth inning and had to leave. Outfielder Randal Grichuk injured his right hand and wrist Monday night at Quad Cities by running into the outfield fence sprinting after a flyball and may or may not be available the rest of the season.
Then there’s a pitching staff that has taken a beating recently. Cedar Rapids gave up 16 runs Tuesday night to Quad Cities and has an August earned run average of about 4.50.
“Right now we’re great,” Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello. ”That’s all I care about is tonight.”
The clubs play again Thursday night at 6:35. Burlington’s record, the way, is the second worst in all of full-season minor-league baseball, ahead of only Double-A New Britain, which came into Wednesday night with 41 wins.
Mike Schweitzer of Cedar Rapids talks with Cedar Rapids Kernels on-field host Carla Davis after winning $10,000 Wednesday night at Memorial Stadium.