By WJBC Staff
PEORIA – The Peoria Chiefs scored an unearned run in the first and made it stand up as they beat the Cedar Rapids Kernels 1-0 Monday night.
The win improves the Chiefs to 39-24 on the season and 72-59 overall with four games remaining on the home stand.
The Chiefs got on the board first in the first inning against Kernels starter Felix Jorge. Darren Seferina led off and reached on an error, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a single by Oscar Mercado for the 1-0 Chiefs lead.
The Kernels had their best chance to score in the third against Chiefs starter Matt Pearce. Austin Diemer singled and advanced to second on a passed ball by Steve Bean. He moved to third on a groundout by Nick Gordon and was stranded there when T.J. White grounded out to end the inning. The Kernels did not get another runner past second the rest of the night, and only had two other runners in scoring position on the evening.
Pearce (11-10) was dominant in the win, going six shutout innings, allowing only three hits, striking out four. Steve Sabatino pitched a shutout inning, allowing one hit and one walk, striking out one. Nick Frey worked a scoreless inning, walking one. Kyle Grana earned his 22nd save of the season with a perfect ninth, striking out one.
