Chiefs Beat KC 8-1 Saturday
June 6, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Geneva, IL - In their first appearance this season in the Chicago area the Peoria Chiefs scored three runs in the first and cruised to a crucial 8-1 win over the Kane County Cougars Saturday night. The win moves the Chiefs to 30-23 and they are now just two games behind the Cougars (33-22) for the Wild Card with 16 games remaining in the half.
The Chiefs set the tone in the top of the first against Cougars starter Shawn Haviland. David Macias, who returned to the Chiefs earlier in the day from Triple-A Iowa, started the game with a double to left-center. With one out Josh Vitters was hit by a pitch and Kyler Burke walked to load the bases. Rebel Ridling put the Chiefs on top 2-0 with a single to right and he advanced to second with Grant Desme booted the ball while trying to pick it up with his glove. The Chiefs made it 3-0 with a fielders' choice off the bat of Ryan Flaherty.
Chiefs starter Aaron Shafer came off the disabled list on Saturday and retired the Cougars in order in the first. He ran into a bit of trouble in the second and was aided by his defense. Steve Kleen doubled and with one out Jeremy Barfield reached on a bad-hop single to third. Franklin Hernandez hit a broken-bat grounder to third and Vitters threw Kleen out at the plate. With two on and two out, Petey Paramone lined one into right-center and Macias made a spectacular diving catch to save at least one run and end the inning.
Peoria loaded the bases in the second but failed to score against Haviland. They broke the game open and knocked the Cougars starter out of the contest in the fifth. Harrison led off with a single and scored easily when Vitters slammed a double off the left field wall. Burke followed with his MWL-leading 22nd double for a 5-0 Chiefs lead. After Ridling bounced out, Trey Barham relieved Haviland on the mound. In an all left-handed matchup, Flaherty put the Chiefs up 7-0 with a two-run homer to right-center.
The Chiefs added to their lead in the eighth against reliever Jason Ray. Mario Mercedes led off with a double to left and he moved to third on a groundout by Macias. Harrison made it 8-0 with a single to left and he moved to second on a wild pitch. Vitters reached on an infield single and Burke walked to load the bases. But Ridling struck out and Flaherty popped out to end the inning. Kane County ended the shutout bid with a run in the eighth off reliever Mike Perconte.
Shafer threw three shutout innings on a strict pitch count in his return from the DL. The opening day starter allowed just two hits without issue a walk. Jeff Beliveau (1-2) picked up the win with four shutout innings in which he struck out five and allowed just two hits. Perconte, a Chicago-area native, allowed one run on one hit and two walks over the final two innings.
• Discuss this story on the Midwest League message board...
Midwest League Stories from June 6, 2009
- Whew! 'Caps hold on, beat Lansing - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Passed ball in the 14th leads to game-winning run - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Bees Rally in Ninth for Win - Burlington Bees
- Chiefs Beat KC 8-1 Saturday - Peoria Chiefs
- TinCaps Rebound With 5-1 Win - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Bees sting in the ninth - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Whitecaps Hold Off Lugnuts, 5-4 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Loons Win Pitchers' Duel, 2-1 - Great Lakes Loons
- Cougars Knocked Out by Peoria - Kane County Cougars
- Loons Edge Dragons 2-1 in Series Opener - Dayton Dragons
- Hawks Held to Two Hits in Loss - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Rainout Saturday means doubleheader Sunday - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Macias Returns to Chiefs, Shafer Activated for Saturday Start - Peoria Chiefs
- Kickoff Summer On Monday With Miller Beer And The Timber Ratters - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- INF Chris Fox Joins Kernels - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- All-Star Robles Placed on DL - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Timber Rattlers snap Kernels streak, 5-2 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
