Chiefs open second half with lopsided loss
June 23, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Cedar Rapids, IA - The Cedar Rapids Kernels scored early and late to hand Peoria Chiefs hurler Grant Johnson his first professional loss 9-2 on Thursday night in the Midwest League Second Half opener for both squads.
The Kernels jumped on Chiefs starter Grant Johnson for a pair in the bottom of the 1st inning. With one out, Sean Rodriguez singled into right field and scored on a two-run homer off the bat of Drew Toussaint.
The Chiefs lost two runners on the basepaths in the 3rd inning and left two in scoring position in the 4th. Peoria finally got on the board in the 5th when Anthony Grantao led off with a long solo homer against Kernels starter Karl Gelinas.
The Kernels stormed back in the 5th for two more runs against Johnson to extend to a 4-1 lead. Chris Walston struck out but reached on a dropped third strike and moved to third on a single by Alexi Casilla. Rodriguez made it 3-1 with sacrifice fly to center an Toussaint drove home Casilla with a single for a 4-1 advantage,
The Chiefs brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the 7th as Cedar Rapids went to the bullpen. But with Eric Patterson, the league leader in hitting at the plate, Oscar Bernard made an ill-advised attempt to score on a pitch in the dirt. He was thrown out by Kernels catcher Michael Collins and the Chiefs were turned away.
Cedar Rapids put it away from there with five runs against Peoria reliever Jon Hunton in the 7th and 8th. Warner Madrigal greeted Hunton with a solo homer, his 10th of the season, in the 7th inning and Chris Walston capped the night for the Kernels with a three-run shot off Hunton in the 8th.
Johnson took the loss, his first professional decision. He threw a career high six innings but allowed four runs on five hits while striking out five. Hunton allowed five runs on four hits in two innings. Gelinas (3-5) picked up the win for Cedar Rapids by tossing 6 2/3 innings of one-run, seven-hit baseball. All three of his wins this season are at home.
Pepsi Player of the Game Drew Larsen (1B) - Larsen picked up two hits including a double to go along with a 9th inning sacrifice fly. He finished 2-for-3 with a rbi.
Notes... The Chiefs have surrendered only 33 homers on the season which leads the Midwest League...Peoria took three of four at Cedar Rapids in April and the teams meet for the first seven games of this half...The game was delayed briefly in the 5th inning when all the power went out in the stadium...Everything but the lights came right back on and the lights were back on within an inning...The Chiefs and Kernels will play game two of the four game series Friday night at 7:00 pm....The game can be heard on 1350 WOAM and www.peoriachiefs.com.
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