Kernels blasted by Peoria, 12-3

CEDAR RAPIDS – Blame Burgundy!

On a night the Cedar Rapids Kernels distributed bobbleheads of veteran KCRG-TV broadcaster Bruce Aune as movie 'Anchorman” lead character Ron Burgundy, the home team laid the proverbial egg in a 12-3 blowout loss to Peoria.

A season-high crowd of 2,671 at Veterans Memorial Stadium didn't have much to get excited about, especially those folks who weren't among the 1,000 that got to the park early enough to get a bobblehead. They were all handed out a half hour prior to first pitch.

Peoria batted 12 and scored seven times in the fourth inning to make this one an early rout. You stay classy, Kernels, and go get ‘em tomorrow.

'Didn't get much of a chance tonight,” said Kernels Manager Jake Mauer. 'The pitching kind of imploded there. You give up seven runs in an inning, that's not good.”

Cedar Rapids (15-12) hasn't been good against Peoria yet this season. The Chiefs (17-9) have won all four meetings, with game number five on tap Saturday night at 6:35.

The levels of ickiness here were everywhere for the Kernels. Pitchers Felix Jorge (2-2) and Christian Powell were battered for 12 hits, with Peoria recording three triples and a home run against them.

On the flip side, Kernels hitters struck out 14 times. A sequence in the very elongated fourth summed things up perfectly.

Peoria's Steve Bean blooped one to right field that Zack Larson of the Kernels charged and dove for, his attempt worthy but immediately ruled a trap by the base umpire. Larson reached his arm out to try and sell the catch but didn't notice Kenny Peoples-Walls run all the way around the bases from first.

By the time Larson scrambled to his feet and threw home, it was too late.

'You stand out there for an eternity on defense,” Mauer said. 'But that's no excuse. You have to make the plays.”

Probably the most appropriate thing that happened in the game came in the bottom of the ninth inning when Jason Kanzler led off with a long home run over the 400-foot sign in dead center. Kanzler has been rocking a full mustache since he joined the Kernels from Minnesota Twins extended spring training April 9.

Logan Wade had three hits, including a pair of doubles, for Cedar Rapids. Todd Van Steensel and Brandon Bixler combined for 5 1/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

But in the big picture …

'Overall, just pretty ugly tonight,” Mauer said.

Blame Burgundy!

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@sourcemedia.net