Behind defensive highlights and a strong outing from Tanner Franklin, the Chiefs won their second straight game Friday night, edging the Kernels 5-4 at Dozer Park to even the series.
The Kernels hit their first home run since Tuesday in the first inning when Brandon Winokur sent one over the left field fence to make it 1-0.
Peoria tied it up in the second when Jose Cordoba brought in Christian Martin with an RBI single.
After scoreless third and fourth innings, Jack Gurevitch broke the tie in the fifth with a three-run shot to left-center, his third in High-A, scoring Sammy Hernandez and Jesús Báez to give the Chiefs a 4-1 lead.
In the sixth, Andy Lugo sent one beyond the left field fence for a solo homer to cut the Kernels’ deficit to 4-2.
Despite surrendering a season-high two home runs, Chiefs starter Tanner Franklin turned in his longest outing as a pro, allowing two runs across 5.1 innings while walking one and striking out four.
The Kernels put pressure on the Chiefs in the seventh when Quinn McDaniel drove in Khadim Diaw on a base hit to trim Cedar Rapids’ deficit to 4-3. McDaniel later tried to score the tying run on a fly ball to center by Danny De Andrade, but Cordoba threw him out at the plate to preserve Peoria’s lead.
Báez kept his hot streak rolling in the bottom of the seventh, blasting a leadoff solo homer to extend the Chiefs’ advantage to 5-3. That home run marked his fourth consecutive game with a long ball.
In the eighth, Luis Pino saved a run with a running catch on the warning track in right field to rob Eduardo Tait of extra bases, keeping the score 5-3.
Protecting a two-run lead in the ninth, Peoria reliever Patrick Galle secured the save despite a Jacob McCombs RBI double that pulled Cedar Rapids within one.
The Chiefs are now 18-24 heading into Saturday’s 6:35 matchup at Dozer Park.
Fans can meet Bluey before postgame fireworks, presented by CEFCU. The game can be heard on PeoriaChiefs.com and seen on MiLB.TV or the Bally Sports Live app.