MWL Cedar Rapids Kernels

Kernels and Chiefs Split Doubleheader to Open Series in Peoria

Published on June 29, 2023 under Midwest League (MWL)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


Peoria, IL - A Tanner Schobel go-ahead RBI in the top of the ninth inning lifted the Kernels to a 7-6 victory in one, then Peoria outlasted Cedar Rapids 3-2 in game two, as the top two teams in the West Division split the Doubleheader at Dozier Park to open the six-game series Thursday night.

After air quality postponed the series opener between the Kernels and Chiefs a night ago, forcing a doubleheader Thursday, Tanner Schobel led off game one with a solo home run to give the Kernels the 1-0 lead off the jump.

In the second, the Kernels continued to grow that advantage. A single and a fielder's choice put two on for Willie Joe Garry Jr., who delivered an RBI hit to double the Kernels' lead. The next batter, Schobel, then produced two more RBI on his two-out single to grow the Kernels' lead to 4-0 after two.

The next four runs of the game, however, belonged to the Chiefs. Two solo home runs and a two-run home run tied the game at 4-4 after seven innings, sending the contest to extra innings.

In the Cedar Rapids half of the eighth, Kala'i Rosario led off with an RBI double putting the Kernels back on top. The next batter Ben Ross then dropped in a single, scoring Rosario to give the Kernels a 6-4 advantage.

Peoria was down to its strike twice in the bottom of the eighth but lived to send it to the ninth. Two-strike, two-out base hits by Osvaldo Tovalin and Jeremey Rivas tied the game at 6-6, sending it to another extra frame.

In the ninth inning, Schobel produced his fourth RBI of the game with a two-out base hit to give the Kernels a 7-6 lead. In the bottom half, Miguel Rodriguez slammed the door to pick up his ninth save of the season to give Kernels the one-run victory.

In game two, RJ Yeager crushed a second-inning solo home run to give Peoria the early 1-0 advantage.

In the third, Jefferson Morales led off the frame with a single to right field and advanced third base on an error. With a man 90 feet away, Schobel again drove in a run with a single to tie the game at 1-1.

With the game still tied in the fourth, Peoria grabbed the lead it would never lose. After a hit-by-pitch, the Chiefs had a runner on with two outs for Tovalin, who cranked an RBI triple to give the Chiefs the 2-1 lead. The next batter, Rivas, then drove home Tovalin with a single to make it a 3-1 advantage.

That remained the score all the way until the top of the seventh inning. After a groundout to begin the frame, a walk and two errors loaded the bases with one out for Schobel. The infielder rolled one down the first baseline for an RBI groundout and moved the runners to second and third with now a 3-2 tally. With the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, Emmanuel Rodriguez struck out to end the ball game as Peoria held on for the 3-2 victory.

The loss in game two for the Kernels (43-28) is just the first for the team at Dozer Park in Peoria on the season after taking the first four contests. The two sides play game three of the set tomorrow at 6:35, with Marco Raya on the mound for Cedar Rapids against Max Rajcic.

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Midwest League Stories from June 29, 2023


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