MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Rain Suspends Chiefs Opener After Eight Innings

Published on April 7, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Peoria, IL - The Peoria Chiefs season-opener on Thursday night was suspended just prior to the start of the ninth inning with the score all square at 2-2. The game will resume in the top of the ninth on Friday at 5:00 p.m. and will be followed at 6:30 p.m. by the regularly scheduled nine- inning game.

The Chiefs got the scoring started right off the bat in the bottom of the first inning. Rubi Silva, the second hitter of the game for Peoria, draw a walk just before Greg Rohan smashed a RBI double into left-center field for the first run of the season.

Peoria held its 1-0 lead through the first three innings of the game as starting pitcher Hayden Simpson, making his professional debut, struck out five of the 11 batters he faced. He struck out the side in the third inning on just 11 pitches.

Cedar Rapids answered in the top of the fourth inning as Kernels' first baseman Brandon Decker evened things up with the long ball. On a 3-2 pitch from Simpson, Decker belted the solo shot over the right field wall and into the Pepsi Party Plaza to tie the game. Simpson struck out the next batter before leaving the game with 67 pitches thrown. He struck out seven and allowed one run on three hits and a walk before giving way to Virginia, IL native Eric Jokisch.

In the top of the sixth inning, Cedar Rapids took its first lead of the game as shortstop Jean Almanzar knocked the ball over the left field wall for the second solo home run of the game off Jokisch. Drew Heid followed with a double and stole third base, but he was stranded 90 feet away.

Peoria would not be kept down however as the Chiefs struck back late in the game. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Greg Rohan hit a leadoff double to right-center field and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Fitzgerald then launched a RBI triple over the head of a diving Travis Witherspoon in centerfield to tie the game at 2-2. Towards the end of the eighth inning, the rain started to fall and Donn Roach relieved Dakota Robinson and retired Anthony Giansanti to end the inning.

Just before the ninth inning began, the umpires signaled to the grounds crew and the tarp was brought onto the field. After 56 minutes of rain, the game was officially suspended.

Simpson went 3 2/3 innings allowing three hits, one earned run, and a walk while striking out seven in the no-decision. Yohan Gonzalez then faced just one batter before Eric Jokisch finished the last four innings allowing one run on three hits and striking out four.

Casey's General Store Player of the Game - Greg Rohan (3B) - In his first at-bat of the season, Rohan hit a RBI double scoring the first Chiefs' run of the season. Later, he hit his second double of the game in the eighth and eventually scored the game-tying run. Rohan finished 2-for-4 with two hits, one RBI, and one run scored.

Before tonight the Chiefs had won two straight Opening Day games and are 13-15 overall...Peoria is 7-6 at home on Opening Day and 2-0 at O'Brien Field...Peoria lost 7-2 in the 1992 opener against Cedar Rapids and lost again to Cedar Rapids in the 2004 opener, 6-5 in 11 innings...The Chiefs have never won three straight Opening Day games...Peoria won its first 11 home games last year for a club record...The four-game series continues Friday at 6:30 p.m...Friday is Fright Night at O'Brien Field and Spider Hill will be out to turn the ballpark into a Haunted House complete with costumes and decorations...

In the regularly scheduled game, Peoria will start LH Austin Kirk (0-0, 0.00) against Cedar Rapids RH Sammy Baez (0-0, 0.00)...The game can be heard starting with the pre-game show at 5:00 PM on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive which also has downloads for an iPhone and iPad app.

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Midwest League Stories from April 7, 2011


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