Kernels overcome lack of pitchers to top Peoria

Considering they were way shy of available pitchers, the Cedar Rapids Kernels figured to have to score a lot of runs to win their game Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.

So they did.

Nine of them, including two tiebreakers in the eighth inning, were just enough to pull out a 9-7 win over the Peoria Chiefs before 2,155 fans. Coming on the heels of a 15-inning loss Friday afternoon to West Michigan and five one-run losses in seven days, this victory was especially sweet.

"Every win is awesome," said Kernels first baseman Gabe Jacobo. "We knew tonight that we were short on pitching, so we had to put up some runs and help them out. That's what we were able to do."

The Kernels (11-11) appeared to catch a break that helped them score their winning runs in the eighth. Newcomer Dwayne Bailey led off with a double down the right-field line against losing pitcher Kevin Kreier (2-1) and was called safe at third on a sacrifice bunt by Darwin Perez, even though Peoria catcher Luis Flores' throw appeared to get him.

"It was a close play, but I was safe," insisted Bailey, who joined the club late last week from extended spring training.

A wild pitch plated Bailey, and Perez came around on an RBI single to right by Alexi Amarista. The little second baseman from Venezuela continues to be a giant for Cedar Rapids, going 2-for-5 Saturday night to raise his batting average to .364.

The rally made a winner of relief pitcher Vladimir Veras (1-0), who retired all six hitters he faced. He was the freshest of three relievers used, considering he didn't pitch in Friday's marathon.

The Kernels got exactly the pick-me-up spot start they needed from lefty Chris Armstrong. Making just his sixth start in four professional seasons, Armstrong went five innings, allowing three hits in a 65-pitch outing.

Armstrong had to start because of a mid-week double-header against Peoria. Couple that with the 15-inning game Friday, and Cedar Rapids had few arms to use.

"We had to have that from Armstrong. That was hugely needed," said Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello. "We're down in pitching, had to extend guys as it was. That was huge."

Armstrong was in line to pick up the victory, too, leaving with a 7-2 lead, but Peoria quickly turned his outing into a no decision. The Chiefs scored five runs in the sixth against relievers Matt Shoemaker and Mike Kohn, including a game-tying two-out grand slam to right by Nelson Perez.

That broke Kohn's 14-inning scoreless streak to begin the season. The converted position player had given up just five hits and struck out 19 until walking Ryan Flaherty and giving up Perez' granny. Kohn had thrown just over 20 pitches Friday and Shoemaker 43.

The Kernels built their lead by scoring runs in each of the first five innings, including Ryan Groth's solo home run in the second (hit first hit since joining the club from extended spring training this week) and Matt Crawford's two-run triple in the fourth.

Cleanup hitter Gabe Jacobo had three hits and two RBIs for a second-straight game. Crawford also had three hits, coming a homer shy of the cycle.

"I'm getting there," said Jacobo, who has raised his batting average to .266. "I've still got a lot of work to do."

The teams play the second game of their three-game series Sunday afternoon at 2.