Cedar Rapids, IA – The Peoria Chiefs allowed seven runs over the first three innings and lost 9-2 to the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Saturday night. The start of the game was delayed 1:41 by rain and the loss drops the Chiefs to 29-26 on the season heading into Sunday’s rubber match.
Cedar Rapids scored in the bottom of the first against Chiefs starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara. Sean Miller reached on an infield single and moved to third on a single by Lamonte Wade. With two outs Zander Wiel singled to drive home Miller and the Kernels led for the first time in the series 1-0.
The Kernels added runs in the second after Alcantara retired the first hitter of the inning. J.J. Fernandez doubled, Jermaine Palacios singled and Alex Perez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Miller singled to left to plate two Kernels for a 3-0 lead. On the play Craig Aikin bobbled the ball allowing Perez and Miller to each advance a base and they scored on a two-out single by AJ Murray as the Kernels took a 5-0 lead.
Cedar Rapids increased their lead in the third. Nelson Molina walked and with one out Fernandez hit a two-run homer to right center to give the Kernels a 7-0 advantage. Alcantara finished the inning, but did not return to pitch the fourth.
The Chiefs finally got on the board in the top of the fourth against the Kernels starting pitcher Cody Stashak. Magneuris Sierra walked and stole second and with one out Brian O’Keefe picked up his fourth RBI of the series with a soft liner to center for a 7-1 Kernels lead.
The Kernels plated two more runs in the fifth against Chiefs reliever Brady Bowen. Kihle singled with one out and moved to second on a wild pitch before Fernandez singled placing runners at the corners. Kihle came home on a fielders’ choice by Palacios and Perez walked. Palacios scored on a single by Miller and Cedar Rapids stretched the lead to 9-1.
The Chiefs scored the final run of the game in the sixth. Edmundo Sosa led-off with a triple against and with one out O’Keefe drove in his second run of the game to cut the deficit to 9-2.
Alcantara (4-4) took the loss allowing a season-high seven runs on a season-high eight hits while striking out four and walking three. Bowen tossed two innings in relief and gave up two runs on four hits as he struck out four and walked one. Harley Holt allowed four hits, struck out three and walked one in two shutout innings.
