Chiefs walk off Kernels with 2 in 9th

Posted on August 19, 2016

By WJBC Staff

PEORIA – The Peoria Chiefs scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to walk off the Cedar Rapids Kernels 3-2 Thursday night in the homestand finale. The win moves the Chiefs to 26-26 in the second half and 56-46 overall as they head out on a seven-game road trip.

The Chiefs loaded the bases in the third inning with one out against Sean Poppen but came up empty. Poppen struck out both Eli Alvarez and Chris Chinea to end the inning. The Kernels grabbed the lead in the fourth against Jorge Rodriguez. With one on and nobody out, Zander Wiel reached on an error by Leo Pina at third base. Both runners moved up a groundout to third and the Kernels took a 2-0 lead on a single to right by Travis Blankenhorn.

The Chiefs answered against Poppen in the fourth but again left a runner in scoring position. Jose Godoy walked and Pina singled to put two on with nobody out. Godoy moved to third on a groundout and scored on a groundout by Carlos Torres to cut the Kernels lead to 2-1.

The game stayed 2-1 until the ninth. Reliever Tom Hackimer walked RJ Dennard to start the inning and Brian O’Keefe drew a pinch-hit walk. Craig Aikin beat out a sacrifice bunt for a single and Dennard scored as the throw to first by Nelson Molina went into the stands. With O’Keefe at third and Aikin at second, Magneuris Sierra singled through the right side for the 3-2 walk-off win.

Rodriguez allowed two unearned runs on four hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings while striking out four. Davis Ward allowed two hits and struck out three over 3 1/3 shutout innings. Tyler Bray (3-3) struck out two and hit a batter in one shutout inning to earn the win.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…