By WJBC Staff
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Peoria Chiefs blew a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning but bounced back to win 7-4 in 10 innings over the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Saturday night. The win moves the Chiefs to 20-21 in the second half and 60-51 overall on the season.
The Chiefs fell behind in the bottom of the first with Jorge Rodriguez making his first start of the 2016 after 21 relief appearances. Cedar Rapids third baseman Christian Ibarra launched his first home run of the season for a 1-0 lead with one out in the inning.
Peoria tied the game an inning later against lefty Lachlan Wells. Chris Chinea led off with a single, his first of three hits in the game, and Jose Godoy was hit by a pitch. With one out RJ Dennard doubled to right-center and Chinea scored to tie the game but Godoy was thrown out at the plate. Dennard moved to third on the throw home but was stranded as the inning ended.
In the third inning the Chiefs took the lead. Magneuris Sierra singled with one out and Jose Martinez followed with a base-hit as well. With two outs Chinea singled to left-field for a 3-1 Chiefs lead as Martinez slid in ahead of the throw.
Rodriguez didn’t give up another run as he kept the Chiefs on top through the fourth inning. Josh Wirsu added a scoreless fifth inning and the Chiefs added on in the sixth inning. Eli Alvarez, who came off the disabled list Saturday for his first appearance since July 22, homered down the right field line for a 4-1 Chiefs lead.
Wirsu issued a walk and allowed a single to start the eighth and gave way to Stephen De La Cruz with one out. With two down, De La Cruz walked Jaylin Davis to load the bases and a passed ball cut the Chiefs lead to 4-2. Nelson Molina beat out an infield single to second base to bring home a run and the Kernels tied the game as Alvarez’s throw sailed past Dennard. With the go-ahead run at second, De La Cruz got a flyout to center to send the game to extras.
Craig Aikin led off the 10th inning with a single to left and after missing two sacrifice bunt attempts, Sierra singled to left as well. Martinez sacrificed back to pitcher Anthony McIver to put two in scoring position. As Alvarez walked, Aikin scored on a wild pitch to put the Chiefs on top 5-4. Chinea’s third hit of the game scored Sierra for a 6-4 lead and Alvarez scored on an error at shortstop for a 7-4 Chiefs lead.
Rodriguez allowed one run on three hits over four innings while striking out seven in a no-decision. Wirsu allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings while striking out three. De La Cruz (5-1) suffered his seventh blown save of the season before earning the win. He allowed one unearned run on one hit and one walk over 2 2/3 innings while striking out one.
