Wallner's Wallop Proves Decisive in Peoria
August 13, 2021 - Midwest League (MWL)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release
PEORIA, Ill. - A go-ahead, two-run home run by Matt Wallner was the difference within a 4-3 Cedar Rapids Kernels win Friday against the Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Park. Cedar Rapids is now 48-40 overall after earning their third consecutive victory while Peoria dropped to 33-55.
The Chiefs grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Aaron Antonini picked up a leadoff walk and stayed at first base until Zade Richardson lifted a two-run homer over the right-field wall.
Gabriel Maciel brought the Kernels level, 2-2, during the top of the sixth. An error on an uncaught foul popup kept Maciel at the plate, and he doubled on the next pitch to drive in Jeferson Morales and Michael Helman.
Peoria powered its way back in front within the bottom of the sixth inning. Antonini's two-out solo shot cleared the fence in right field for a 3-2 Chiefs advantage.
Wallner's decisive dinger in the seventh put Cedar Rapids ahead for the first time at 4-3. Yunior Severino led off with a double before Wallner crushed a round-tripper to right field. The Kernels would maintain that one-run lead through the end of the contest.
Andrew Cabezas (3-1) allowed just one run over three innings of relief and tallied his first victory since a shutout start June 5 at the Fort Wayne TinCaps. Melvi Acosta followed with two scoreless and hitless frames for his sixth save this year. Diego Cordero (0-1) gave up the go-ahead home run and lost his 2021 Chiefs debut.
In the penultimate contest of this Kernels road trip, Cedar Rapids will face Peoria at 6:35 p.m. Saturday. Right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long (0-0, -.--) is scheduled to make his Kernels debut against right-hander Miles Mikolas (0-0, -.--) who is joining the Chiefs on a rehab assignment from the St. Louis Cardinals. Audio coverage with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz will be available on www.kernels.com.
Cedar Rapids will host its next six-game homestand from Tuesday, August 17 through Sunday, August 22. Fans can purchase tickets for all Cedar Rapids Kernels home games by visiting www.kernels.com, going to the Kernels Ticket Office, or calling (319) 896-7560. The Kernels Ticket Office is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. On Sundays when the Kernels have a home game, the Kernels Ticket Office will open at 11:00 a.m.
Midwest League Stories from August 13, 2021
- Wisconsin Powers Past Loons - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Snappers Spoil Bandits' Six-Run Comeback in Extras - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Loons Out-Slugged by Rattlers in Friday Loss - Great Lakes Loons
- Vargas, Lugnuts Walk off Dragons, 7-6 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Snappers Stifle River Bandits' Rally, Win 8-6 In Extras - Beloit Sky Carp
- Lansing Rallies in 9th to Edge Dragons, 7-6 - Dayton Dragons
- Chiefs Hit Two Homers in Loss to Cedar Rapids - Peoria Chiefs
- Six-Game Winning Streak Comes to an End - South Bend Cubs
- Wallner's Wallop Proves Decisive in Peoria - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Kerner Belts First Pro Homer in Win - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Captains, Mother Nature Walk off in Lake County - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Valera's Tear Continues with Game-One Walk-Off; Game Two Postponed - Lake County Captains
- TinCaps Game Information: August 13 vs. South Bend - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Dayton Dragons Game Notes for Friday - Dayton Dragons
- Ward, Taylor Go Back-To-Back in 5-2 Win - Great Lakes Loons
- Loons Turn Tables on Wisconsin with 5-2 Comeback Win - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Cedar Rapids Kernels Stories
- Kyle Hess the Hero, Kernels Walk-Off Timber Rattlers 5-4
- Cedar Rapids Erases Eight-Run Deficit, Bests Peoria 10-8 in Extras
- Kernels Score Early, Cruise to 5-2 Win
- Kernels Sweep Doubleheader in Peoria, 4-3 and 6-5
- Kernels' Offense Erupts for Second Straight Night in 9-4 Win over Peoria
