Kernels score twice in 9th to sweep Peoria, 9-8

A team of destiny?

"It seems like it," Cedar Rapids Kernels outfielder Matt Crawford said. "If we think it, then we are."

There's a lot of people thinking they are after watching their 9-8 win over Peoria in Game 2 of this first-round Midwest League playoff series Thursday night at Memorial Stadium. The Kernels swept the Chiefs in this best-of-3 series by winning in rather unique ways.

Wednesday night at Peoria, Cedar Rapids used a leadoff strikeout wild pitch and a wild pitch after on an attempted intentional walk to win in 10 innings, 6-4. Thursday night, they scored two ninth-inning runs with four walks, a wild pitch and a game-ending hit by pitch - Crawford getting plunked in the ankle by a 1-1 pitch from Peoria closer Chris Huseby.

"We've got a long way to go, but, yeah, it's starting to seem like that," Kernels infielder Jon Townsend said of that destiny thing. "We've got a lot of guys who are getting hits and having great at-bats in big situations."

Huseby had walked only 10 guys in 54 regular-season innings, but threw eight straight balls to begin the Kernels' ninth. That walked Roberto Lopez and Gabe Jacobo.

A foul pop and strikeout made it look like Huseby would escape unscathed, but he walked Darwin Perez on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases, then Townsend on five pitches to tie the game at 8-8. He threw a ball and a strike to Crawford, then threw a slider (one of 16 in a row, according to Kernels chart keepers) low and in to the left-handed hitter, who actually tried to skip out of the way but couldn't.

Pinch runner Dwayne Bailey strolled home, and the celebration began. That included the 2,518 fans in attendance.

"Amazing," said Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello. "This is a resilient club. We did everything we could to try and lose this thing."

Peoria tattooed Kernels starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood to the tune of 13 hits and eight runs (seven earned) to build an 8-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Kernels manufactured four runs despite having two outs and no one on base to close within a run.

Peoria, the MWL's leading hitting team, finished with 15 hits, four from Jovan Rosa. The Kernels had 14, two each by Alexi Amarista, Lopez, Angel Castillo and Perez.

Now it's on to the second round, where Burlington awaits. The best-of-3 Western Division finals (a rematch from last season) begins Saturday night at 6:35 at Burlington. The series shifts to Cedar Rapids for Game 2 on Sunday afternoon at 2 and an if-needed Game 3 Monday night at 6:35.

Ryan Chaffee is scheduled to start Game 1 for the Kernels and Manuarys Correa Game 2.

"It's a testament to the way this club has fought all year," Townsend said. "We get down, but we find a way to get back in the game."

Unique ways, in this case.