MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Lose Longest Game in OBF History, Swept in DH

Published on April 13, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Peoria, IL -The Peoria Chiefs were swept in a Sunday double header when Kane County scored two runs in the top of the 17th inning. The Cougars won game one 2-1 and game two 6-4. The second game ended 7 hours, 28 minutes after the first game began setting both a time of game and innings record in O'Brien Field history. Total, the two teams played 24 innings and combined for 36 hits, 174 at-bats, 43 strikeouts, 36 left on base and nine errors.

In game one, Kane County jumped out to a first inning lead against Chiefs starter Zach Ashwood. With one out, Michael Lissman hit a solo home run out to left that put the Cougars ahead 1-0.

The Chiefs got to Kane County starter Scott Mitchinson in the second inning. Marquez Smith started the inning with a double off the wall in left-field and scored on a double by Jovan Rosa to tie the game 1-1.

Kane County regained the lead due in part to mistakes by the Chiefs defense. Greg Dowling reached on an error by second basemen Jonathan Mota and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Walter Correa reached on a bunt when nobody covered first base and Todd Johnson lifted a sacrifice fly to center that scored Dowling and put the Cougars in front 2-1.

The Chiefs had a chance to tie the game in the fifth inning against Mitchinson. Drew Rundle hit a two-out single and stole second base to move into scoring position. Mota blooped a single into right field; however, Rundle was thrown out at the plate by Johnson to keep the score 2-1 in favor of Kane County.

Trailing 2-1 entering the seventh, Peoria got back-to-back two-out base hits off Cougars' reliever Scott Moore. Moore bounced back to strike out Rundle to end the game with the tying and game-winning run on base.

Ashwood took his second loss of the season in five innings of work allowing two runs, one of which was earned on two hits while striking out one. Audy Santana tossed two shut out innings, allowed three hits and did not record a strikeout.

In game two, the Chiefs jumped out to a first inning lead for the first time in the series. After two were out, Marquez Smith doubled and Josh Donaldson drew a walk off Cougar starter Jamie Richmond. Blake Lalli hit a line drive to the shortstop Walter Correa who tried to throw Smith out at the plate but the throw got away which allowed both Smith and Donaldson to score and make it 2-0. Rosa added the second consecutive two-out hit to score Lalli and extend the lead to 3-0.

Kane County struck against Ryan Acosta in the third inning. Christian Vitters started the inning by reaching on a throwing error by Mota. Jonathan Johnston doubled to right and Vitters scored on a single by Matt Ray. Corey Brown followed with a RBI single to cut the lead to 3-2. Greg Dowling reached on an error by Acosta and a questionable call at first base when it appeared Lalli stepped on first base in time for the out. Chiefs Manager Ryne Sandberg was ejected from the game by base umpire Brent Rice after arguing the call.

Peoria responded in the next half inning against Richmond. Donaldson started the inning with a base hit and Lalli followed with a double that scored Donaldson to make it 4-2. Kyler Burke singled to right but Lalli was thrown out at the plate by Johnson to end the inning.

The Chiefs defense allowed Kane County to tie the game in the fourth. Shane Keough reached on an error by Lalli to start the inning and moved to second on a single by Vitters. Both runners moved up 90 feet on a ground out and then scored on a double by Ray. Craig Muschko relieved Acosta with two outs and got Brown to flyout to end the inning.

Both teams remained scoreless for another thirteen innings until reaching a record-breaking 17th inning, when Vitters led off with an infield single after no one covered first base. Walter Correa hit a double-play grounder to short, which was botched by shortstop Marwin Gonzalez for an error to put runners on first and third with nobody out. Johnston gave Kane County the lead with a sacrifice fly to left, and Matt Ray singled home Correa for a 6-4 lead.

In the bottom of the 17th, Smith reached on an infield single with one out, to bring the tying run to the plate for the Chiefs. Leonardo Espinal struck out Donaldson, and Dylan Johnston flew out to left to end the longest game in O'Brien Field history.

Acosta allowed just one earned run over 3 2/3 innings of work in his second no-decision of the season. He struck out two and allowed seven hits without issuing a walk. Muschko allowed just one hit in 3 1/3 innings of work while striking out four. Dustin Sasser allowed two hits over three shut-out innings while striking out two. Jordan Latham allowed two hits over three shut-out innings while striking out five. Steve Vento allowed one hit over three shut-out innings while striking out one. Mota took the loss, allowing one earned and one unearned run in his lone inning of work.

Player of the Day - Blake Lalli (1B)- Lalli singled home the Chiefs first run of game two and doubled home a run two innings later. He finished the game 2-for-3 with a double, run scored, two RBI, and a walk.

Notes... The Chiefs had runners on base in seven of the 10 extra innings and in scoring position in the 8th, 9th, 12th, and 14th...Smith was 3-for-8, falling one AB shot of the Chiefs record...The Chiefs lost a 17 inning game at Fort Wayne in 2004...Peoria has fallen behind in eight of 11 games this season...Sandberg was ejected four times in 2007, once at home...The Chiefs are 0-2 in game one of a double header...Donaldson has thrown out nine of 15 potential base stealers...Drew Rundle is 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts this season...Peoria had two runners thrown out at the plate on Sunday and have lost four at the plate this season...The homestand continues on Monday as the Chiefs play host to the two-time defending MWL Champion West Michigan Whitecaps...Monday is a Sprint Money Monday...Tickets for Monday's game are half price...Peoria will send RH Dae-Eun Rhee (2-0, 0.90) to the mound against LH Ramon Garcia (1-1, 3.75)...The game can be heard live beginning with the pre-game show at 6:15 PM online at www.peoriachiefs.com or on WOAM 1350.

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Midwest League Stories from April 13, 2008


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