PEORIA, Ill. - Steve Bean’s grand slam in the sixth inning propelled the Peoria Chiefs to a 7-5 win over the Kernels Tuesday in a Midwest League game before 6,562 fans at Dozer Park.

Trey Vavra hit a three-run, inside-the-park home run for the Kernels in the third inning.

The Kernels (23-16) led 4-2 going into the sixth inning, but Bean’s grand slam put Peoria in front 6-4. Bean’s line drive got over the wall in right field.

Vavra’s three-run homer in the third gave the Kernels a 4-2 lead. With two runners on and Peoria leading 2-1, Vavra’s line drive went into the gap in right-center and became lodged in the wall.

The two outfielders put their hands up, but mistakenly went into the wall to fish out the baseball. By the time the ball was thrown back in, Vavra and the two runners had wheeled all the way around the bases.

Pat Kelly and Nick Gordon both scored on the play. Kelly began the inning with a single to right while Gordon reached base on a fielder’s choice.

Vavra has six home runs in 36 games. Four of his home runs have been three-run blasts and the other two have been solo homers.

The Kernels took the first lead by scoring a run in the second inning. Zack Larson began the inning by doubling down the right field line. He moved to third base on T.J. White’s ground-out and scored on a passed ball.

Peoria (21-18) quickly moved in front with a two-run bottom of the second inning, taking a 2-1 advantage.

After Bean’s grand slam, a two-out throwing error by Peoria shortstop Oscar Mercado allowed the Kernels to inch closer in the seventh inning. With Kelly at second base, Mercado’s throw to first base on Gordon’s grounder was low.

It allowed Gordon to reach and Kelly to score, cutting Peoria’s lead to 6-5. Kelly singled earlier in the inning and stole second base to get into scoring position.

Peoria added an insurance run in the eighth inning, making the score 7-5.

John Curtiss (2-3) took the loss for the Kernels after allowing six runs on six hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked two.

Daniel Poncedeleon (4-0) secured the win for the Chiefs, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings. Robby Rowland earned his eighth save, tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings.

Yorman Landa pitched a perfect seventh inning with one strikeout in his first outing for the Kernels in nearly a year after a shoulder injury. Michael Theofanopoulos allowed one run in one inning.

The series at Peoria resumes Wednesday at 7 p.m. Two southpaws will take the hill as Stephen Gonsalves (3-1, 1.41) squares off against Peoria’s Dewin Perez (0-1, 11.37)

KERNELS (5): English, cf, 3 0 1 0, Gordon, ss, 4 1 0 0, Vavra, 1b, 4 1 2 3, Murphy, lf, 4 0 0 0, Larson, rf, 3 1 1 0, White, 3b, 4 0 0 0, Schmit, 2b, 3 0 0 0, Silva, c, 4 0 1 0, Kelly, dh, 4 2 2 0. Totals 33 5 7 3.

PEORIA (7): Sierra, cf, 4 0 0 0, Mercado, ss, 3 0 0 0, Diekroeger, 3b, 4 0 0 0, Thompson, dh, 3 2 1 0, Ringo, 1b, 3 2 1 0, Radack, rf, 4 2 2 1, Bean, c, 3 1 2 4, Drake, lf, 3 0 0 1, Turgeon, 2b, 3 0 1 0. Totals 30 7 7 6.

Kernels   013 000 100 - 5 7 0
Peoria    020 004 01x - 7 7 1

Curtiss, Landa (7), Theofanopoulos (8) and Silva. Poncedeleon, Rowland (7) and Bean. W - Poncedeleon (4-0). L - Curtiss (2-3). S - Rowland (8). 2B - Larson (5), Ringo (3), Bean (4). 3B - Turgeon (1), Radack (2). HR - Vavra (6), Bean (2). SB -Kelly (1), Gordon (7). E - Mercado (12). T - 2:20. A - 6,562.