Kernels homer three times in 10-1 rout of Peoria

Peoria, IL – The Cedar Rapids Kernels belted three home runs in support of a brilliant Brent Headrick start on Tuesday evening, dumping the Peoria Chiefs 10-1 in their series opener. Jair Camargo, Will Holland and Alerick Soularie each homered in the win. Cedar Rapids improves to 20-8, matching their best mark of the season at 12 games over .500.

With two away in the third and Soularie on second, Anthony Prato bounced a routine grounder to third. The Chiefs’ third baseman attempted to catch Soularie off the bag but unleashed an errant throw into right that allowed both runners to reach scoring position safely at second and third. Jeferson Morales laced a two-run single through the left side on the very next pitch to put the Kernels up 2-0.

Camargo added to the scoring with a towering two-run shot in the fourth to deep left-center, then Holland led off the fifth with a solo homer to left.

The 5-0 lead was more than enough for Headrick, who extended his scoreless streak to 16.0 innings with 5.0 shutout frames of two-hit ball. He struck out six and walked one on his way to his fourth win of 2022.

Soularie added to the lead with a solo shot to center in the seventh. Peoria plated an unearned run in the seventh in response, but that was all they would get as Matt Mullenbach, Derek Molina and Tyler Palm finished things off.

Cedar Rapids added four in the ninth to put things further out of reach as Willie Joe Garry Jr. walked then Holland and Prato rapped back-to-back singles to load the bases. Morales reached on an error that plated Garry Jr., Christian Encarnacion-Strand doubled in a pair followed by a wild pitch to score the former.

Game two of the series is set for 11:05 a.m. on Wednesday at Dozer Park in Peoria.

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