Kernels Offense Not Enough, Peoria Bests Cedar Rapids 12-10

PEORIA, ILL - Cedar Rapids crushed three home runs, part of 11 hits, leading to 10 runs, but it was not enough Thursday night in a 12-10 loss in Peoria.

The Kernels opened the scoring early. The second batter of the game, Eduardo Tait, belted a home run to center to put Cedar Rapids on top 1-0.

But that was the Kernels' lone lead of the night. In the bottom of the first, a walk put a runner on for Ian Petrutz, who lasered a home run to right to put the Chiefs in front 2-1. The next batter, Jalin Flores, was hit by a pitch and came home to score two batters later on a fielder’s choice to make it 3-1.

Peoria extended its lead in the second. A walk and a single put two on for Flores, who scored a run with an RBI double before scoring himself on a Josh Kross RBI base hit to extend the advantage to 5-1.

The Kernels got a run back in the third. Singles from Jaime Ferrer and Marek Houston put two runners on for Tait, who drove in another run on a fielder’s choice to cut the deficit to 5-2.

The Chiefs got that run back in the bottom of the inning. Anyelo Encarnación singled to begin the frame and scored three batters later on a Sammy Hernandez RBI double to make it 6-2.

In the top of the fifth, a Ferrer hit by a pitch and a Houston single put two on for Tait, who plated two more with a two-run double to bring Cedar Rapids within two at 6-4.

In the bottom of the inning, doubles by Miguel Villaroel and Hernandez combined for a run to extend the Chiefs' lead back to 7-4.

The Kernels got within a run in the sixth. Danny De Andrade singled two batters before Caden Kendle, who smashed a two-run home run to left to pull the score to 7-6.

That was the closest the Kernels would get. The Chiefs struck for five runs in the bottom of the inning. A pair of hits put two on to begin the frame, and a Kross RBI single made it 8-6. With two still on, Villarroel drove in both with a two-run double. The next batter, Jose Cordoba, launched a two-run home run to make the Peoria edge 12-6.

In the bottom of the seventh. Yehizon Sanchez pitched an immaculate inning, striking out the side on just eight pitches with a pitch clock violation.

The Kernels built on the momentum in the top of the eighth. An error and a walk put two on for Kendle, who plated a pair with a two-run single. The next batter, Miguel Briceno, blasted a two-run home run to left to make it 12-10.

But Cedar Rapids did not get any closer. The Kernels went down in order in the top of the ninth, and the Chiefs held on for the 12-10 win.

The loss drops the Kernels to 7-11 on the season and to 0-3 to begin the series in Peoria. The series with the Chiefs continues Friday with Nolan Santos making the start on the mound opposite Blake Aita.