PEORIA, Ill. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels fell to the Peoria Chiefs, 5-3, before 561 fans at Dozer Park Monday night in the opener of a four-game series.

Peoria's Jake Stone came up with the big hit when he drilled a two-run double to deep center field in the bottom of the eighth inning. The hit scored Kenny Peoples-Walls and Mason Katz, broke a tie and moved Peoria ahead, 5-3.

The inning started when Peoples-Walls singled and moved to second base on a wild pitch. Katz drew a walk to put two men on in front of Stone.

Christian Powell (0-1) took the loss for the Kernels. He allowed two runs on two hits in one inning. He struck out three and walked one.

Peoria picked up the game's first run in the first inning. C.J. McElroy, Jr. singled to start the inning, advanced to second base on a wild pitch by Kernels starter Aaron Slegers, went to third base on a throwing error by first baseman Mitch Garver and scored on another wild pitch.

The Kernels quickly tied the score, 1-1, in the top of the second inning. Bryan Haar doubled to left to start the inning. He advanced to third base on a wild pitch and came home on Logan Wade's RBI single into left.

The game stayed tied until the fifth inning when the Kernels jumped ahead, 2-1. Bo Altobelli began the inning with a base on balls. He moved to second base on a wild pitch and scored on Tanner Vavra's two-out RBI single past shortstop Juan Herrera.

Peoria went ahead 3-2 in the sixth inning. Carson Kelly tripled and came home on an RBI single up the middle by Peoples-Walls. He later scored on Mason Katz's RBI double down the left field line.

Zack Larson connected for his first home run of the season in the seventh inning for the Kernels to tie the game, 3-3.

Slegers started for the Kernels and pitched into the sixth inning. He allowed three runs on five hits while striking out five and walking three. Brandon Bixler did not allow a run in just over an inning, extending his scoreless streak to 11 1/3 innings to start the season.

Chris Perry (1-0) collected the win for Peoria, allowing one run in relief. Joe Scanio secured his first save as he pitched a perfect ninth inning. Alex Reyes started for the Chiefs and allowed two runs on four hits in just over four innings. He struck out five and walked one.

The Kernels take on Peoria on Tuesday night at 6:30. Ryan Eades (1-2, 4.91) will start for the Kernels while Nick Petree (1-0, 0.00) will pitch for Peoria.

KERNELS (3): Kanzler, cf, 4 0 2 0, Vavra, 2b, 3 0 1 1, Christensen, lf, 4 0 1 0, Garver, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Haar, 3b, 4 1 1 0, Larson, rf, 4 1 1 1, Wade, dh, 4 0 1 1, Altobelli, c, 2 1 0 0, Vielma, ss, 3 0 0 0. Totals 32 3 7 2.

PEORIA (5): McElroy, cf, 4 1 2 0, Herrera, ss, 3 0 0 0, Kelly, c, 4 1 2 0, Castillo, rf, 4 0 0 0, Peoples-Walls, lf, 4 2 2 1, Bean, dh, 1 0 0 0, Katz, 2b, 3 1 1 1, Stone, 1b, 4 0 1 2, Schulze, 3b, 3 0 0 0. Totals 30 5 8 4.

Kernels    010 010 100 - 3 7 1

Peoria     100 002 02x - 5 8 0

Slegers, Bixler (6), Powell (8) and Altobelli. Reyes, Perry (5), Scanio

(9) and Kelly. W - Perry 1-0). L - Powell (0-1). S - Scanio (1). 2B - Haar

(4), Kanzler (2), Katz (4), Stone (3). 3B - Christensen (2), Kelly (2). HR

- Larson (1). SB - Peoples-Walls (2). E - Garver (2). T - 2:45. A - 561.