Long Road Swing Ends with 10-1 Rout

PEORIA, ILL. - In a Monday matinee at Dozer Park, the Cedar Rapids Kernels tallied a season-high 10 extra-base hits including a season-high-tying three home runs in a 10-1 triumph over the Peoria Chiefs. Kai-Wei Teng earned the victory with his first professional quality start as Cedar Rapids (34-30) won the series, 4-1, and posted a 9-5 record in a 14-game road swing.
The Chiefs (27-36) took an early 1-0 lead on Juan Yepez's RBI force out in the second inning, but the Kernels surged in front during a four-run third inning. Ricky De La Torre scored the game-tying run on a wild pitch to Wander Javier. Jared Akins batted next and crushed a go-ahead home run to right field that put Cedar Rapids ahead, 4-1.

Cedar Rapids would score 10 unanswered runs within its 10-1 victory. The Kernels hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning with De La Torre's solo shot following a two-run blast by Jacob Pearson. Andrew Bechtold delivered an RBI double in the seventh and scored on a single by De La Torre. Yeltsin Encarnacion led off the eighth inning with a triple before coming home via wild pitch.
Teng (1-0) notched a game-high eight strikeouts over a personal-best six innings pitched for a quality start and a win. He struck out four batters in a row while collecting nine consecutive outs to finish his appearance. Teng also became the 16th different Kernels pitcher to receive credit for a victory this season.
Jose Martinez and J.T. Perez combined for three frames of scoreless and hitless relief to close the contest. Martinez pitched a perfect seventh inning to extend his shutout streak to 13.1 innings. Perez allowed two walks but no other damage in his Midwest League debut at the end of the game.
Michael Brettell (2-3) gave up seven runs including four unearned runs over 3.2 innings pitched in a loss. He is now 0-2 in two starts against the Kernels with 15 runs allowed in five innings pitched.
Up next, Cedar Rapids will host a six-game homestand to close the first half of the season. Tuesday's series opener between the Kernels and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers is set for 6:35 p.m. CT with Cedar Rapids right-hander Austin Schulfer (4-3, 3.02) expected to start against Wisconsin right-hander Logan Gillaspie (1-2, 4.02). Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will call the action on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY and also online at www.kmryradio.com, www.kernels.com, and MiLB.TV.
Great Clips Twins Tuesday features a 2-for-1 ticket offer available via the Kernels email newsletter and Facebook page. Cedar Rapids will wear special Twins-themed jerseys that will be auctioned off later this season, and one lucky fan at Tuesday's tilt will win a pair of tickets to a Minnesota Twins game.
Fans can purchase tickets for all Cedar Rapids Kernels home games by visiting www.kernels.com, going to the Kernels Ticket Office, or calling (319) 896-7560. The Kernels Ticket Office is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. On Sundays when the Kernels have a home game, the Kernels Ticket Office will open at 11:00 a.m.