By WJBC Staff
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Peoria Chiefs scored six runs in the top of the ninth inning to rally past the Cedar Rapids Kernels for an 8-6 series finale win on Tuesday night. With the victory the Chiefs win the series 3-1 and move to 62-52 on the season heading into the offday.
The Chiefs let a golden opportunity slide by in the top of the first against Kernels starter Brady Anderson. Magneuris Sierra led off with a single, Jose Martinez singled and Eli Alvarez walked to load the bases. Peoria has struggled all season with the bases loaded and it happened again Tuesday. Chris Chinea grounded into a fielders’ choice with Sierra out at the plate and Jose Godoy hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning with no runs scoring.
Cedar Rapids took advantage immediately against Chiefs starter Ronnie Williams. Sean Miller was hit by a pitch and out at second base on a Luis Arraez fielders’ choice. Zander Wiel put the Kernels on top with his 14th home run of the season, a two-run shot to left.
The Kernels added to the lead in the fourth inning. Casey Scoggins walked and with one out moved to second on a single by Sean Miller. Arraez doubled to left-center to give the Kernels a 3-0 lead.
The Chiefs chipped away with unearned runs in the sixth and seventh. Eli Alvarez walked in the sixth, stole second with one out and took third on a throwing error. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Brian O’Keefe. In the seventh Carlos Torres bunted for a single with one out against reliever Anthony Vasquez. An error on a pickoff moved Torres to third and he scored on a two-out single by Alvarez.
The Kernels scored two unearned runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh to push the lead to 5-2. Josh Wirsu took over for Bob Wheatley with the bases loaded and one out. An error by Chinea at first base plated two runs before Wirsu got out of the inning.
The Chiefs were down 5-2 going into the ninth. Torres led off with a single against Vasquez and Sierra was hit in the head by a breaking ball. Max Cordy took over on the mound and Jose Martinez singled home Torres to cut the deficit to 5-3. Alvarez made it 5-4 with a single to center and Chinea lifted a flyball to left that fell in as JJ Fernandez slid late. The play was ruled an error with the game tied 5-5 as Martinez scored. With two outs the Chiefs took a 6-5 lead on an infield single by Leo Pina and Craig Aikin’s double gave the Chiefs an 8-5 lead.
Stephen De La Cruz stayed in the game for the bottom of the ninth and the Kernels loaded the bases on a walk and two singles. A fielders’ choice to third cut the lead to 8-6 but the Chiefs ended the game on a 6-4-3 double play.
Williams allowed three runs on seven hits over five innings in a no-decision. He walked three and struck out five while hitting two batters. Wheatley allowed two unearned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out two over 1 1/3 innings. Wirsu retired two batters and did not allow a hit. De La Cruz (6-1) allowed one run on two hits and one walk over two innings. He struck out two and earned the win.
