Chiefs Blast Kernels to Clinch Playoff Bid

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - The Peoria Chiefs earned the Western Division First-Half Wild Card berth with a 12-3 victory Sunday against the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Peoria (39-31) tied for second place with the Clinton LumberKings (39-31) and received the playoff spot via head-to-head tiebreaker. Cedar Rapids finished the first half with a record of 32-37.
The Kernels jumped out to a 1-0 lead during the first inning of Sunday's first-half finale. Jacob Pearson hit a one-out single and scored from first base on an opposite-field RBI double from Alex Kirilloff.

Peoria pulled in front by hitting back-to-back home runs in the fifth. Irving Lopez lifted a two-run, go-ahead blast over the wall in the right field for a 2-1 advantage. Elehuris Montero added a solo shot to left field to increase the lead to 3-1.
Jose Miranda's RBI single within the sixth cut Cedar Rapids' deficit in half, 3-2. Back-to-back two-out walks from Pearson and Kirilloff kept the inning alive, and Miranda drove in Pearson with a single.
The Chiefs answered with round-trippers in in the seventh and eighth innings and secured a 6-2 advantage. Nick Plummer led off the seventh with a solo homer down the right-field line. J.R. Davis drilled a two-run clout inside the left-field foul pole within the eighth.
Peoria opened a busy ninth inning by scoring six runs. Dennis Ortega brought in two runs on a single, and Yariel Gonzalez and Matt Fiedler followed with RBI singles of their own. Run-scoring singles later in the frame by Bryce Denton and Jose Martinez closed the Chiefs' offensive outburst. Cedar Rapids tallied a run in its half of the inning via Jordan Gore's bases-loaded walk to leave the final score at 12-3.
Fabian Blanco (2-0) was the winning pitcher Sunday while Jordan Balazovic (1-1) took the loss. Blanco allowed an inherited run to score but did not yield a run of his own over 2.1 innings pitched in relief. Balazovic notched a game-high six strikeouts but gave up three runs in five innings within a losing decision.
The 2018 Midwest League campaign continues with the 54th Midwest League All-Star Game at 7:05 p.m. ET Tuesday hosted by the Lansing Lugnuts at Cooley Law School Stadium in Lansing, Michigan. Cedar Rapids' Midseason All-Star selections are outfielder Alex Kirilloff, shortstop Royce Lewis, and pitchers Jared Finkel and Brusdar Graterol. Kirilloff will also compete in the Midwest League Home Run Derby scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET Tuesday.
Cedar Rapids will start the second half of the season with a seven-game homestand. Thursday's opener against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will begin at 6:35 p.m., and fans unable to attend that contest can follow the action on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY FM and also online at www.kmryradio.com, www.kernels.com, and MiLB.TV.
First Federal Credit Union Flat Screen Thursday invites fans aged 18 and older to pick up a free raffle ticket for a chance to win one of three 40-inch flat screen televisions that will be given away. Thirsty Thursday, sponsored by 94.1 KRNA, offers special $2.00 prices for 12 oz. regular draft beer and 20 oz. bottled soda and water. College Night includes a $9.00 package for a club ticket and two hot dogs for students that present a college ID at the Kernels Ticket Office.
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.