PEORIA, Ill. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels fell to the Peoria Chiefs, 4-1, before 736 fans at Dozer Park Tuesday night in Peoria.
Chad Christensen led the Kernels with three of the team's six hits. Zack Larson drove in Christensen for the team's lone run in the ninth inning.
The Kernels fell to 9-9 for the season with their sixth loss in their last seven games.
Peoria took a 1-0 lead in the first inning for the second consecutive game in the series. Juan Herrera doubled with one away and came home on a two-out infield single by Kenny Peoples-Walls.
Peoples-Walls came up with another two-out RBI single in the third inning to extend the Chiefs' lead to 2-0.
The Chiefs plated another run in the sixth inning to move ahead 3-0. Mason Katz started the frame with a walk and he scored with two outs when Cesar Valera reached on a fielding error by third baseman Bryan Haar.
Ryan Eades (1-3) was solid but took the loss for the Kernels. He allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two.
The Kernels got their only run in the ninth inning. Christensen collected his third single to lead off the inning. He later came home on an RBI single to right-center by Larson, making the score 4-1.
Christensen raised his batting average to .333.
Josue Montanez pitched in relief for the Kernels, allowing one run on three hits over 2 1/3 innings.
Nick Petree (2-0) collected the win as he shut the Kernels down through six innings, allowing three hits. He struck out eight and walked two. Petree has not allowed a run in 17 innings this season.
The Kernels and Chiefs have a quick turnaround with an 11 a.m. game Wednesday. Ethan Mildren (0-1, 5.14) starts for the Kernels while Arturo Reyes (2-1, 3.38) pitches for Peoria.
KERNELS (1): Kanzler, cf, 4 0 0 0, Vavra, 2b, 4 0 1 0, Christensen, 1b, 4 1 3 0, Garver, c, 4 0 0 0, Haar, 3b, 3 0 0 0, Larson, rf, 4 0 1 1, Wade, lf, 4 0 1 0, Santy, dh, 3 0 0 0, Vielma, ss, 2 0 0 0. Totals 32 1 6 1.
PEORIA (4): McElroy, cf, 4 2 2 0, Herrera, ss, 4 1 2 0, Kelly, c, 3 0 0 1, Peoples-Walls, lf, 4 0 2 2, Katz, 2b, 3 1 1 0, Young, rf, 3 0 0 0, Stone, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Valera, 3b, 3 0 1 0, Bosco, dh, 3 0 1 0. Totals 31 4 9 3.
Kernels 000 000 001 - 1 6 1
Peoria 101 001 10x - 4 9 0
Eades, Montanez (6) and Garver. Petree, Brookshire (7), Loraine (8) and Kelly. W - Petree (2-0). L - Eades (1-3). 2B - Vavra (4), Herrera (3). SB
- Peoples-Walls 2 (4), McElroy (4), Valera (1). E - Haar (1). T - 2:29. A - 736.
