Kernels Knock off Chiefs in Series Finale Sunday
Peoria, IL – The Cedar Rapids Kernels doubled up the Chiefs 6-3 on Sunday to take five of six from Peoria in their week-long series at Dozer Park. The Kernels were boosted by Alerick Soularie, who either drove in or scored all six runs for Cedar Rapids in the win.
Peoria, IL – The Cedar Rapids Kernels doubled up the Chiefs 6-3 on Sunday to take five of six from Peoria in their week-long series at Dozer Park.
The Kernels were boosted by Alerick Soularie, who either drove in or scored all six runs for Cedar Rapids in the win. In the second, he got the party started with a two-run homer to left field, his second of the series, to push the Kernels to an early 2-0 lead.
Two innings later, Soularie got to Peoria starter Dionys Rodriguez for a second time, as he tripled home two more runs to make it 4-0. Soularie then crossed the plate on a wild pitch uncorked by Rodriguez, which stretched the Kernels lead to 5-0.
From there, Peoria clawed their way back, as they scored a run in each of the next three innings. In the bottom of the fourth, a Carlos Soto double scored Francisco Hernandez from first to get the Chiefs on the board. In the fifth, Mike Antico followed up a Masyn Winn triple with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 5-2. Then, in the sixth, Soto tacked on a sac fly of his own to bring the Chiefs within 5-3.
Cedar Rapids quickly got a run back in the seventh to push the lead back to three, and the bullpen took it the rest of the way. Kernels relievers retired 10 of the final 11 Chiefs batters to secure the victory.
With the win, Cedar Rapids is now 10-2 against the Chiefs on the season. The teams will meet for a three-game set in Iowa in July, the final series between the two clubs.
The Chiefs are off on Monday. They will resume play on Tuesday from Beloit, when they host the Beloit SkyCarp. First pitch is set for 6:35 and the hometown audio call can be found on our website at peoriachiefs.com.