Rodriguez Homers for 9-8 Walk-Off Win

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - Wander Javier made his much-anticipated Midwest League debut Saturday, but Ben Rodriguez stole the show at the end with a walk-off home run to give the Cedar Rapids Kernels a 9-8 victory against the Peoria Chiefs in front of a season-high crowd of 3,132 fans at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Rodriguez's heroics came with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning. A strikeout thrown by Evan Sisk (1-3) opened the inning before Rodriguez came to the plate. On a 1-0 pitch, Rodriguez crushed a solo shot to left field to secure a 9-8 win and even this four-game series at 1-1. Sisk allowed two total runs in relief and took the loss.

Peoria (21-27) and Cedar Rapids (24-25) matched runs over the first two innings to start the game, but Cedar Rapids surged ahead by a 6-3 margin in the third inning. Jacob Pearson delivered a go-ahead sacrifice fly that drove in Jared Akins. Andrew Bechtold and Gabe Snyder extended the advantage on two-out RBI singles.
The Chiefs answered with four consecutive runs to rally in front, 7-6. Brendan Donovan scored during an Ivan Herrera single within the fifth. In the sixth, Donovan hit a game-tying, two-run double and later scored on a double from Nolan Gorman.
During the seventh, Cedar Rapids tied the contest at 7-7. Rodriguez extended the inning with a two-out walk, and Bechtold followed with a single. Snyder added a single of his own to drive in Rodriguez and even the score.
Each side plated a run within the eighth inning. Peoria regained the lead with Herrera's second RBI single of the game, but Cedar Rapids tied the tilt, 8-8, on a run-scoring single from Gilberto Celestino.
Zach Neff (2-1) earned the win Saturday for the Kernels. He yielded one unearned run in two innings pitched, and he recorded a 1-2-3 inning during the ninth prior to Rodriguez's game-ending homer. The walk-off home run was the first by Cedar Rapids since Jermaine Palacios clubbed a three-run blast in a 6-3, 12-inning victory May 22, 2017 against the Clinton LumberKings.
Cedar Rapids will continue its eight-game homestand Sunday with first pitch against Peoria scheduled for 2:05 p.m., and the probable pitchers are Kernels right-hander Josh Winder (2-1, 3.48) and Chiefs right-hander Michael Brettell (1-0, 1.35). Fans unable to attend the contest can follow the action on 1450 KMRY AM and 93.1 KMRY and also online at www.kmryradio.com, www.kernels.com, and MiLB.TV.
Early-arriving fans will receive an IPTV Kids Adventure Clubhouse Cap, a Kernels Team Baseball Card Set courtesy of Perfect Game USA, and a Kernels Team Photo presented by Copyworks. All kids (12 and under) will get a voucher for a free hot dog, popcorn, and drink for Western Fraternal Life Kids Eat Free Sunday. Fans can go down to the field after the game to run the bases, play catch in the outfield, and get autographs from the Kernels courtesy of Prairie Farms and 104.5 KDAT. The Hovick Family Farm Petting Zoo, Travel Advisors Baseball Bingo, Face Painting by Kennedy, and Papa Balloon will also be at the game.
Fans can purchase tickets for all Cedar Rapids Kernels home games by visiting www.kernels.com, going to the Kernels Ticket Office, or calling (319) 896-7560. The Kernels Ticket Office is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. On Sundays when the Kernels have a home game, the Kernels Ticket Office will open at 11:00 a.m.