Kernels win wild game in Peoria

Peoria, IL – Jean Almanzar cleared the bases with a 3-RBI triple in the top of the 12th inning to lead the Cedar Rapids Kernels to a 12-9 extra inning victory over the Peoria Chiefs at O'Brien Field in Peoria, IL. Almanzar's triple came with two outs and hit high off the wall in the right field corner.

Dakota Robinson pitched a perfect ninth inning to pick up his first save of the season. Donn Roach (2-0) was the winning pitcher.  Roach pitched three scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit and striking out two.

Yohan Gonzalez took the loss for Peoria.  Gonzalez pitched two innings, allowing three runs on two hits.  He struck out three and walked three.

Almanzar led the offense, going 2-6 with 4 RBI.  Carlos Ramirez and Wes Hatton each had three RBI.  Ricky Alvarez went 3-6 with one RBI.

Carlos Ramirez got the wild day started in the top of the 1st with a 2-run home run to left field. The Chiefs responded by plating one in the bottom half of the 1st.  Matt Szczur scored when Richard Jones reached on an error by Kernels shortstop Jean Almanzar.

The Kernels sent nine batters to the plate in the 3rd inning.  Drew Heid led off the inning with a double.  He scored on a RBI double by Wes Hatton.  Travis Witherspoon followed with a double. Hatton came home on a RBI sacrifice fly to left by Carlos Ramirez.  Ryan Jones sent Witherspoon home with a RBI double.  Ricky Alvarez scored Jones with a RBI double of his own. The Kernels led 6-1 after the top of the 3rd.

Peoria scored one in the bottom of the 3rd when Pierre LePage scored on a double play groundout to cut the Kernels lead to 6-2. The Chiefs came within one in the 4th when they scored three.  RBI singles by Arismendy Alcantara, LePage, and Rubi Silva made the score 6-5. Wes Hatton extended the lead for the Kernels to 8-5 in the 6th inning with a 2-RBI double.

Peoria evened the score in the bottom of the 6th.  An RBI single by Szczur cut the lead to 8-6.  Then, Richard Jones smashed a 2-run home run over the fence in right to tie the game, 8-8. The Kernels took a brief lead in the 8th with a RBI single by Almanzar, making the score 9-8. Peoria answered in the bottom of the 8th with an RBI single by Greg Rohan, tying the game again at 9-9. The score remained tied until the 12th inning when Almanzar's triple gave the Kernels the lead.

Daniel Tillman started the game on the mound for the Kernels.  He went 3.1 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) and one hit.  Tillman struck out none and walked three.  Justin La Tempa pitched 2.2 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. La Tempa struck out one and walked none.  A.J. Schugel pitched two innings, allowing one run on three hits.  Chief starter Robinson Lopez went four innings, allowing six runs on eight hits.  He struck out three and walked none.

Morgan Hawk brings you all the action from O'Brien Field in Peoria on Sunday afternoon starting at 1:00 pm on the radio home of Kernels baseball, 1450 KMRY AM. Fans may also listen online at www.kernels.com or www.kmryradio.com <http://www.kmryradio.com> .

The Kernels conclude a four game road trip through Sunday in Peoria and open the 2011 season at Perfect Game Field on Monday, April 11 at 6:35 pm against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The first 1,000 fans through the gates get a free 10th Anniversary Veterans Memorial Stadium t-shirt, thanks to the Best Western Longbranch. 2011 magnet schedules, courtesy Mercy Care Community Physicians, will be passed out to all fans during Opening Week, April 11-14.