Chiefs sweep Kernels; win second straight series

With a 3-2 victory Sunday afternoon, the Chiefs became the first visiting team to sweep the Kernels in a six-game series at Veterans Memorial Stadium since Minor League Baseball adopted the current six-game series format in 2021.

With the victory, Peoria secured its second consecutive series win and its second sweep in its last three series victories. The Chiefs have also won six straight games and advance to 19-16 in the second half of the season.

Over the first three innings, Peoria left one runner stranded in each frame.

Cedar Rapids starter Ivran Romero struck out six of the first 11 batters he faced, including three of the four he faced in the first inning.

The Kernels grabbed the game’s first lead in the second inning after Danny De Andrade doubled to lead off the frame and later scored on Jose Salas’ sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.

Peoria answered in the fourth inning, scoring three runs on two hits and three walks off Romero, who eventually suffered the loss. Josh Kross and Cade McGee walked before Michael Dattalo singled to load the bases with nobody out.

After Ian Petrutz popped out, Anyelo Encarnación walked in a run and Chase Heath hit a deep sacrifice fly to right, where Yasser Mercedes leaped at the wall to rob a potential extra base hit. McGee came into score on the sac fly.

Cameron Nickens then singled in Dattalo to give Peoria a 3-1 advantage.

Peoria starter Nate Dohm allowed just the one run on four hits over his three innings, walking none and striking out three.

In the fifth, Chiefs reliever Patrick Galle, who recorded the win, walked three straight batters with two outs, ultimately inducing a pop out to escape the inning.

Peoria’s Trey Pooser also loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth from a single, a walk, and a hit batter. Eduardo Tait popped out to end the inning.

Still ahead 3-1 in the eighth, Chiefs reliever Dylan Driessen gave up a pair of doubles, including Graham Brown’s RBI two-bagger to score Andy Lugo and make it a 3-2 game.

Rubén Menes became the fifth Chiefs pitcher of the game with a save chance in the ninth inning. Tait singled and Byron Chourio pinch ran for him. Mercedes doubled afterward, putting runners in scoring position with nobody out.

After Menes struck out Danny De Andrade, Jayson Bass hit a comebacker to Menes. Chourio was caught too far off third base, and Menes threw him out at third for the second out.

With runners on first and second and two outs, Jose Salas grounded out to end the ballgame and earn Menes his second save of the season.

The Chiefs welcome the Quad Cities River Bandits to Dozer Park on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. for the first of six games to kick off a two-week homestand.

Tickets are available at PeoriaChiefs.com or at the Dozer Park box office.

Fans can watch the game on MiLB.TV and the Bally Sports Live app or listen to the game on PeoriaChiefs.com.