Cedar Rapids Kernels Edge Peoria Chiefs 4-3 - Advanced A, Midwest League

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - Cedar Rapids, IA – The Peoria Chiefs suffered a 4-3 loss Tuesday night to the Cedar Rapids Kernels due in large part to a two-run error with two outs in the sixth inning. The loss drops the Chiefs to 2-3 on their 10-game road trip and 11-20 on the regular season.

     The Kernels picked up a first inning lead against Chiefs hurler Ryan Acosta. Clay Fuller drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a single by Andrew Romine. A wild pitch moved both runners up and Fuller scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jay Brossman. Acosta got a popup and groundout to escape the inning down just 1-0.

     The Chiefs, who left a pair
ADVERTISEMENT on base in the first, tied the game without a hit in the third. With one down, lefty Trevor Reckling walked three straight Chiefs batters to load the bases. Marquez Smith smoked a grounder off Reckling’s leg to score Nate Samson and tie the game 1-1.

     Peoria put together three straight hits in the fifth to take their first lead of the night. Samson started the rally with a one-out single and he moved to second on an infield hit by Josh Donaldson. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch before Smith put the Chiefs on top 2-1 with a single to left.

     With one down in the sixth, Kyler Burke doubled to right and moved to third on a single by Elvis Lara. Cliff Andersen’s grounder to short was misplayed by Andrew Romine, allowing Burke to score for a 3-1 Chiefs lead. Reckling recovered from the error to get back-to-back outs and limit the damage.

     Todd Blackford relieved Ryan Acosta in the sixth and was let down by his defense. With two down and two one, Blackford walked Jerry Gonzalez to load the bases. He then got Clay Fuller to hit a grounder to second to end the inning. However, Marwin Gonzalez’s sidearm throw sailed to the Kernels dugout allowing two runs to score for a 3-3 tie.

     Audy Santana relieved Blackford for the seventh and Cedar Rapids took a lead. Jeremy Moore tripled with one out and scored on a sac fly from Gordie Gronkowski. A base-running blunder by Gonzalez in the eighth inning cost the Chiefs a chance to tie the game.

     Acosta struck out three and allowed just one run over five innings. The 19-year-old walked three and gave up four hits in his sixth no-decision of the season. Blackford allowed two unearned runs on a walk and two hits in his one inning of work. Santana (0-2) gave up one run on three hits and a walk in two innings while taking the loss. 

Player of the Game – Ryan Acosta (RHP) – The teenage Acosta was in position for his first career win when he left the game. Ryan gave up one run over five innings on three walks and four hits. He struck out three and took his sixth no-decision in seven starts.  

Notes… Burke doubled in the sixth inning and has a seven game hit streak…The Chiefs were 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position…Cedar Rapids was 0-for-11 with two sac flies and two runs scoring on the Gonzalez error…Kernels closer Ryan Brasier leads the Midwest League with seven saves…The Chiefs are 5-7 in one run games this season…The last time the Chiefs committed more than one error in a game was April 25, a span of 10 games…The finale of the series is Wednesday at 12:05 PM…The Chiefs will send LH Chris Siegfried (0-3, 5.14) to the hill against LH Robert Fish (1-0, 4.13)…The game can be heard live beginning with the pre-game show at 11:50 AM online at www.peoriachiefs.com or on WOAM 1350.

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