Kernels give a \'gift' to Peoria on Center Stage Christmas Night
June 24, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release
The Cedar Rapids Kernels let a 4-2 lead slip away in the ninth inning as they fell to the Peoria Chiefs, 5-4, Friday night in front of a Center Stage Christmas Night crowd of 3,004. The loss drops the Kernels to 1-1, 31-41 overall as Peoria improves to 1-1, 36-36 overall.
Kernels starter Fernando Rodriguez went 4-1/3 innings, allowing six hits and two runs while striking out five Chiefs. His counterpart, Peoria starter Chris Shaver, went seven innings allowing five hits and four runs (one earned) while striking out four. Neither starter figured in the final decision.
Peoria scored first, as Aaron Sisk and Ryan Harvey combined for back to back doubles to make the score 1-0 Chiefs.
The Kernels rallied right back as Richard Giannotti scored on a Jordan Renz double to center field. Renz then scored on a Chris Walston ground out to make the score 2-1 Kernels.
Peoria tied the game in the fourth on a Luis Montanez home run to the deepest part of Veterans Memorial Stadium. Montanez's homer smacked off the outfield tri-vision signs in left center, just above the 407 foot marker. But the game wouldn't stay tied for long.
Richard Giannotti hit his third home run of the year, a solo shot to center field to put the Kernels in front, 3-2. After starter Fernando Rodriguez ran into some trouble in the top of the fifth, Ronnie Ray came in to shut the door on the Chiefs, working out of a bases-loaded jam and making a spectacular play tagging out Sam Fuld as he tried to score from third on a tapper in front of the mound.
Ray ended up pitching 3-2/3 innings, allowing only one hit and no runs. He struck out two and walked two.
The Kernels added another run in the bottom of the seventh on a wild play. Giannotti had doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a throwing error by Peoria catcher Alan Rick. Jordan Renz hit a deep fly ball to center field which looked like it would be caught by center fielder Sam Fuld. Fuld dropped the ball, letting Giannotti score from third while Renz ended up on second. Fuld was charged with an error and Renz received credit for a sac fly to score Giannotti. Peoria manager Julio Garcia argued that Fuld had made the catch and dropped the ball in transition to making a throw. He ended up being tossed from the game, which may have been the spark his Chiefs needed.
Miguel Gonzales took over for Ray in the ninth inning and gave up a squibber down the left field line to Alan Rick. With Feddy Sandoval playing off the line for the left-handed Rick, by the time anyone could field the ball, Rick was on second with a double. He advanced to third on a wild pitch. After a walk to Sam Fuld, Eric Patterson singled to right field to make the score 4-3 Kernels. Another wild pitch moved Fuld and Patterson up a base and after a walk to Aaron Sisk, the bases were loaded with no one out.
Ryan Harvey was then hit by a pitch which tied the score. The winning run scored on an Oscar Bernard sac fly, scoring Sisk. The Kernels went down in order in the ninth to end the game.
Gonzalez (0-2) took the loss as Adalberto Mendez (1-0) got the win in relief and Tim Layden earned his third save.
The Kernels and Chiefs play game three of this four game set Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. It will be Procter and Gamble Fireworks Night at the stadium with the first pitch at 7 pm. The gates will open at 6 pm. NOTE: Saturday's game is nearly sold out! Tickets are ONLY available by calling the Kernel Ticket Office at (319) 896-7560 or stopping out at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Ticket Office opens at 10 am Saturday morning.
Midwest League Stories from June 24, 2005
- Bees and Snappers Bring Back Friday Night Fights - Burlington Bees
- Kernels give a âgift' to Peoria on Center Stage Christmas Night - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Chiefs Rally Past Kernels 5-4 - Peoria Chiefs
- Unearned runs haunt Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Cougars Get Revenge with LumberKings - Kane County Cougars
- Hayes' single powers Swing win - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Seven, Eight and Nine, Three Man Wrecking Crew in 12-5 Win - Dayton Dragons
- Rough night for the Whitecaps - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Southwest Michigan wins before crowd of 5,107 at C.O. Brown - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Lyons assigned to West Michigan - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Silver Hawks make their mark in All-Star Game - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Lumberkings down Kane County 8-1 - Clinton LumberKings
- Josh LeBlanc activated from DL - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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