PEORIA, Ill. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels dropped the series opener to the Peoria Chiefs, 3-1, Tuesday night in a Midwest League game before 1,827 fans at Dozer Park.

Cedar Rapids was held to five hits. The Kernels (32-43) struck out 11 times and drew zero walks.

Zack Granite had two hits for Cedar Rapids. The two teams meet again Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Rob Kaminsky (3-1) started for the Chiefs and struck out seven Kernels over 5.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits. Robert Stock retired all seven batters he faced in 2.1 innings, striking out two.

Brandon Lee collected his first save, allowing a hit in the ninth inning before striking out two.

Ethan Mildren (2-5) went five innings in the loss for the Kernels, allowing three runs on six hits. He struck out five and walked two.

Brandon Bixler went two scoreless innings, allowing two hits while striking out two. Dallas Gallant added a scoreless inning, allowing no hits while collecting one strikeout.

The Kernels jumped in front 1-0 in the first inning. Granite singled through the left side, went to second base on a wild pitch and advanced to third base on a fly out by Engelb Vielma.

Granite came home when Chad Christensen bounced a ball off third baseman Michael Schulze's glove. Schulze was given an error and Christensen was credited with a run batted in.

Peoria answered with a pair of runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning, taking a 2-1 advantage. Kenny Peoples-Walls hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, giving Peoria a 3-1 lead.

KERNELS (1): Granite, lf, 4 1 2 0, Vielma, ss, 4 0 1 0, Christensen, 1b, 4 0 1 1, Garver, c, 3 0 0 0, Swim, c, 1 0 0 0, Haar, 3b, 4 0 0 0, Kanzler, cf, 3 0 0 0, Williams, dh, 3 0 0 0, Vavra, 2b, 3 0 0 0, Murphy, rf, 3 0 1 0. Totals 32 1 5 1.

PEORIA (3): Bryan, rf, 3 1 1 0, McElroy, cf, 4 1 1 0, Ringo, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Kelly, c, 3 0 1 1, Perez, dh, 3 0 1 0, Katz, 2b, 3 0 1 1, Schulze, 3b, 4 0 1 0, Peoples-Walls, lf, 4 1 1 1, Pedroza, ss, 3 0 1 0. Totals 31 3 8 3.

Kernels     100 000 000 - 1 5 1

Peoria      200 100 00x - 3 8 1

Mildren, Bixler (6), Gallant (8) and Garver, Swim. Kaminsky, Stock (6), Lee (9) and Kelly. W - Kaminsky (3-1). L - Mildren (2-5). S - Lee (1). 2B - Granite (1). HR- Peoples-Walls (3). SB - Murphy (2). E - Mildren (2), Schulze (15). T - 2:40. A - 1,827.