Peoria, IL – The Peoria Chiefs came back from a six-run deficit to defeat the Cedar Rapids Kernels 7-6 Saturday night. The win improves the Chiefs to 35-27 and increases their Western Division lead to 1 ½ games heading into the Sunday night series finale
Cedar Rapids grabbed the lead in the top of the first against Chiefs starter Jake Woodford sending ten hitters to the plate. Sean Miller doubled on the first pitch of the game and Daniel Kihle walked. AJ Murray doubled with one out to score both runners for a 2-0 Kernels lead. Back-to-back doubles by JJ Fernandez and Kevin Garcia with two outs put the Kernels on top 4-0. Brad Hartong reached on an infield single and Jermaine Palacios double home two more for a 6-0 Kernels lead.
The Chiefs finally rallied in the fifth inning against Kernels starter Eddie Del Rosario. Leo Pina was hit by a pitch, Craig Aikin singled and both runners scored on Magnueris Sierra’s triple. Down 6-2, Eli Alvarez drew a walk that ended the night for Del Rosario as Williams Ramirez came out of the bullpen. Alvarez was thrown out stealing second before Sierra scored on a wild pitch. Brian O’Keefe was hit by a pitch and Chris Chinea went deep for the second day in a row cutting the Kernels lead to 6-5.
The Chiefs pulled ahead in the bottom of the seventh after Peoria reliever Juan Perez kept the Kernels off the board for three innings. Sosa drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on an errant pick-off attempt. Alvarez was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch to put two in scoring position. O’Keefe singled home Sierra to tie the game and Chinea scored Alvarez on a sac fly to give the Chiefs a 7-6 lead.
Woodford got a no-decision after allowing six runs on seven hits while striking out one and walking one in four innings of work. Perez (3-1) picked up the win in relief with three shutout innings allowing two hits while striking out two and walking one. Harrison earned the save (3) pitching two innings retiringall six hitters he faced and recording two strikeouts.
Notes…The Chiefs are 1 ½ games up on the Kernels with eight games to play…The five doubles by the Kernels are the most given up by Chiefs pitching this season…The six runs are the most given up by Woodford this season and in his career…Chinea homered in back-to-back games for the first time this season…Chinea has eight multi-RBI games and two games with three RBI…Sierra has 75 hits on the season and leads the Midwest League…Sierra leads the Chiefs with 25 multi-hit games…O’Keefe has a seven game hit streak, tying his season high…The Chiefs are 3-14 when allowing five runs or more…The six run deficit erased is the largest by the Chiefs since they trailed 6-0 and won 10-9 against Kane County on June 11, 2012, also at home…The Chiefs are 7-7 in one-run games…The series concludes Sunday at 5:00 p.m. as the Chiefs start RH Ryan Helsley (5-1, 2.14) against Kernels RH Dereck Rodriguez (1-7, 7.11)…The first 1000 kids age 12 and under receive a Chiefs youth replica jersey…The first 1000 fans receive an Eli Alvarez player poster give away courtesy of the Peoria Star Journal and City Link…Sunday is also Bark in the Park and PNC Kids Sunday…Tickets for kids 12 and under are $5.00…Kids 12 and under can get player autographs pregame…Fans can enjoy a pre-game catch on the field and kids run the bases post-game… Ice Cream sandwiches are only $1.00…Seniors 55 and up may purchase tickets for $5.00 for all Sunday games… The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 4:45 p.m. on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive which also has downloads for a free app on the iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Android…The broadcast is also available on the Peoria Chiefs Network in the Tune-In Radio App.
