Cedar Rapids Rallies to Sweep Peoria

PEORIA, ILL. - Royce Lewis' three-run home run in the sixth inning Thursday at Dozer Park opened the scoring for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in their 9-5 come-from-behind win against the Peoria Chiefs. Cedar Rapids ended the game on a 9-1 run and swept its four-game series at Peoria. The Kernels also stayed undefeated and improved to 6-0 to start the season.
The Chiefs (1-5) jumped to a 4-0 lead early in the series finale. Back-to-back doubles during the second inning by Elehuris Montero and Dylan Carlson produced the first run. Montero added a fourth-inning RBI single, and Julio Rodriguez drove in two runs with a single of his own later in the frame.

Jake Walsh kept the Kernels scoreless for five innings until Lewis' big blast within the sixth. A leadoff single by Mark Contreras and a one-out single by Akil Baddoo set the table for Lewis, who lifted his first home run of the season to left field and closed the gap to 4-3.
Cedar Rapids surged ahead in the top of the seventh before Peoria pulled even in its half of the inning. Baddoo tripled to drive in Contreras and Jordan Gore for a 5-4 Kernels lead. Carlson answered for the Chiefs with an RBI double off second base to tie the contest at 5-5.
A four-run rally within the eighth inning lifted the Kernels to a 9-5 advantage. Alex Kirilloff posted a leadoff double, and Shane Carrier and Jose Miranda walked to load the bases. Two batters later, David Banuelos hit a groundball that led to a two-base error that brought in Kirilloff and Carrier. Contreras followed with a double that plated Miranda and Banuelos.
Kevin Marnon (2-0) garnered the victory Thursday, and Thomas St. Clair (0-1) was the losing pitcher. In a non-save situation, Jared Finkel tossed two scoreless innings and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth with a bases-loaded strikeout of potential game-tying run Juan Yepez.
Up next, Cedar Rapids hosts a three-game home series against the Clinton LumberKings. Friday's game is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with Kernels southpaw Bryan Sammons (0-0, 0.00) expected to start against Snappers right-hander Tommy Romero (0-1, 1.69). Catch the coverage on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and online at www.kmryradio.com, www.kernels.com, and MiLB.TV.
Superstition Night kicks off the Kernels' three-game homestand. The first 500 fans through the gates Friday the 13th will receive a Kernels four-leaf clover keychain. Kernels Friday Mug Club Night, sponsored by Stadium Bar & Grill, Shuey's Restaurant & Lounge, Red's Public House, Mulligan's Pub, and Z102.9, features an opportunity to purchase a refillable 16 oz. mug of draft beer or soda for just $6. Those souvenir mugs can also be used for $3 refills at any Kernels Friday home game.
Fans can purchase tickets for all Cedar Rapids home games by visiting www.kernels.com, going to the Kernels Ticket Office, or calling (319) 896-7560. The Kernels Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. On Sundays when the Kernels have a home game, the Kernels Ticket Office will open at 11:00 a.m.