Kernels Sweep Chiefs Sunday

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Cedar Rapids Kernels swept a six-game series from the Peoria Chiefs with Sunday’s 2-1 win at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Cedar Rapids (34-26) wrapped up the first half of the 2021 season with seven victories in a row.

Tyler Watson continued a scoreless inning streak by starting an early bid for a combined shutout. He tossed four frames with no runs allowed just as he did in his return to the rotation June 29 at the Quad Cities River Bandits. Watson has not given up any tallies in his last 10.1 innings pitched.

Connor Lunn (3-5) matched Watson through the fourth before letting Cedar Rapids take the lead during the fifth. A one-out error loaded the bases for DaShawn Keirsey Jr. who produced a sacrifice fly to plate Max Smith. Alex Isola followed with an RBI single that drove in Kyle Schmidt for a 2-0 advantage. Both runs were unearned but still charged to Lunn in his losing outing.

Breckin Williams (1-0) received credit for the victory after recording a scoreless fifth inning. Derek Molina retired all eight batters faced over 2.2 innings and earned his second hold. Melvi Acosta yielded an RBI single to Moises Castillo within the ninth inning before closing out the contest for his team-high fifth save in as many chances.

Sunday’s triumph capped a 6-0 series sweep and pushed Cedar Rapids to a near-season-high seven-game win streak. Meanwhile, the six-game skid for Peoria (22-38) is its longest drought this year.

Up next, the Kernels will begin the second half of the 2021 season Tuesday with the opener of a six-game road series at the South Bend Cubs. First pitch of Tuesday’s tilt at Four Winds Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET (6:05 p.m. CT). Kernels audio coverage with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz would be on www.kernels.com.

Cedar Rapids will host its next homestand Tuesday, July 20 through Sunday, July 25. 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.