PEORIA, Ill. – The Cedar Rapids Kernels set season highs for runs and hits in an 11-2 pounding of the Peoria Chiefs on Saturday afternoon at Peria Chiefs Stadium.

The Kernels collected 17 hits with Drew Leachman collecting four safeties.  Romy Jimenez drove in four runs and had the Kernels' only extra-base hit. They scored six runs in the first inning and five more in the fourth to cruise to the victory and avoid a sweep of the three-game series by the Chiefs.

The Kernels sent 12 hitters to the plate and scored six runs in the first inning. All five hits in the inning were singles and all resulted in RBIs. Jorge Polanco, Travis Harrison, Leachman, Jhonatan Arias and Niko Goodrum collected the hits. Jimenez added an RBI sacrifice fly.

The Chiefs plated a run in the bottom of the third inning, but the Kernels tallied five runs in the top of the fourth inning to take an 11-1 lead.

With the bases loaded Leachman lined a single to score Dalton Hicks.  Jimenez then cleared the bases with a three-run double that just sneaked inside the third base line and rolled to the left-field corner. Jimenez later scored on Goodrum’s RBI single.

Mason Melotakis started for the Kernels and went 3 1/3 innings.  He allowed one run on four hits while striking out two and walking four. Steve Gruver (1-0) went 4 2/3 innings in relief for the win, allowing one run on four hits while striking out four. Tyler Jones pitched the ninth inning and allowed one hit.

Dail Villanueva (0-2) had a rough start for Peoria, going but two-thirds of an inning and allowing six runs on four hits while walking three. He took the loss.

The Kernels open a three-game series Sunday at Burlington against several former Kernels. The Bees are a farm club of the Los Angeles Angels, the Kernels' former affiliate. Sunday's game starts at 2 p.m.  Tyler Duffey (1-1) is scheduled to start for the Kernels against Brandon Love (1-1).

Recently acquired Jose Berrios is scheduled to pitch for the Kernels Monday night at Burlington.

KERNELS (11): Buxton, cf, 4 1 0 0, Goodrum, ss, 4 1 2 2, Polanco, 2b, 6 1 2 1, Hicks, 1b, 4 1 1 0, Walker, rf, 4 2 2 0, Harrison, 3b, 4 2 2 1, Leachman, dh, 5 2 4 2, Arias, c, 5 0 2 1, Jimenez, lf, 4 1 2 4, Melotakis, p, 0 0 0 0, Gruver, p, 0 0 0 0, Jones, p, 0 0 0 0. Totals 40 11 17 11.

PEORIA (2): Vakera, lf, 5 1 1 0, Mejia, ss, 3 1 1 0, Wilson, 2b, 3 0 2 0, Walton, 1b, 4 0 2 1, Wisdom, 3b, 4 0 0 0, Swinson, rf, 3 0 0 0, Popkins, rf, 0 0 0 0, Kelly, c, 3 0 0 0, Tilson, cf, 4 0 1 0, Velazco, c, 4 0 2 0, Villanueva, p, 0 0 0 0, Aldrete, p, 0 0 0 0, Scanio, p, 0 0 0 0, Donofrio, p, 0 0 0 0, Llorens, p, 0 0 0 0. Totals 33 2 9 1.

Kernels   600 500 000 - 11 17 1
Peoria    001 010 000 -  2  9 1

Melotakis, Gruver (4), Jones (9) and Arias. Villanueva, Aldrete (1), Scanio (4), Donofrio (8), Llorens (9) and Velazco. W - Gruver (1-0). L - Villanueva (0-2). 2B - Jimenez (2), Mejia (3), Valera (3). SF - Jimenez. E - Buxton (1), Mejia (1). T - 2:55. A - 3,099.