MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Lose 4-3 Saturday

Published on July 16, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Peoria, IL - The Peoria Chiefs battled back from a 3-0 deficit on Saturday night, but fell to the Fort Wayne TinCaps, 4-3 in 13 innings. Peoria falls to 9-13 in the second half, 42-50 on the season and is now 4-7 in extra-inning games.

Both starting pitchers dominated the early stages of the game as neither club gained an edge through the first four innings. Chiefs' starter Eric Jokisch allowed just one hit in the first and two more in the fourth, but kept the TinCaps off the board. Fort Wayne's Dennis O'Grady retired the first seven batters he faced before Anthony Giansanti singled in the third.

Fort Wayne broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth with two runs on four hits against the Chiefs' left-hander. Emmanuel Quiles led off with a long, ground rule double to left that caromed off the left field wall and into the berm. With one out, Chris Bisson drove in the first run of the game with a RBI single to center that scored Quiles from second. Rico Noel followed with a base hit to left and Wes Cunningham made it 2-0 with a RBI double to center.

After a scoreless sixth, the TinCaps added a run in the top of the seventh against Chiefs' reliever Alvaro Sosa. Bisson lifted a 2-0 pitch past a diving Giansanti in right and made it to third for a leadoff triple. After Rico walked and stole second base, Cunningham made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Bisson. Not to be denied, the Chiefs' offense came to life in their half of the seventh as Peoria evened the game with a three-run inning. Richard Jones set the tone with a one-out double down the left-field line and traveled to third on a wild pitch by O'Grady.

Micah Gibbs brought Jones home and put Peoria on the board for the first time with a RBI double to left before Taiwan Easterling made it a 3-3 ballgame with one swing of the bat. The newcomer turned on a 2-1 pitch and drove it over the left field wall for a two-run homer, the first of his pro career, in his Chiefs debut.

Fort Wayne threatened to retake the lead in the eighth as the TinCaps put a pair of runners on with no outs in the inning. Luis Domoromo singled into left and Connor Powers walked before Oscar Garcia advanced both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt. After Peoria replaced Sosa with lefty Brent Ebinger, Quiles drew a one-out walk and B.J. Guinn lifted a fly ball to Giansanti in shallow right field. The Chiefs' right fielder not only made the catch, but also threw Domoromo out at home as the runner attempted to tag up from third.

In extras, Ebinger sat down the first three batters he faced in the 10th before the Chiefs generated strong scoring opportunities in the bottom of the 10th and 12th innings. In the 10th, Giansanti notched a one-out triple followed by an intentional walk to Arismendy Alcantara. With two on, Rubi Silva and Elliot Soto failed to bring the winning run home with a pair of outs to end the inning. In the 12th, Easterling led off with an infield single and Klafczynski reached safely on a sac bunt when Easterling beat the throw to second base on an attempted fielder's choice. After a pair of strikeouts, Silva was walked intentionally to load the bases, but Soto grounded out to end the frame.

With P.J. Francescon on the mound for the Chiefs, Fort Wayne broke through with the game-winning run in the top of the 13th. Powers slapped a lead-off double to right and was replaced at second by pinch runner Cory Spangenberg. With one out, Spangenberg moved to third on a wild pitch before Guinn made it 4-3 with a RBI single to left.

However, the Chiefs didn't go down without a fight. Ryan Cuneo ledoff the inning by reaching on an error. Jones grounded into a fielder's choice at second base before the throw went past the first basemen, however, due to Jones turning towards second base, he was tagged out at first base for the double play. With Peoria down to their last out, Gibbs doubled to left-center. Next, Easterling and Klafczynski walked to load the bases. However, TinCaps' pitcher Chris Franklin struck out Giansanti to end the game, and earn the save.

Jokisch allowed two runs on seven hits in five innings of a no-decision. He did not walk a batter and struck out five. Sosa pitched 2 1/3 innings and gave up one run on two hits. He walked three batters and struck out two. Ebinger allowed just two hits in 3 2/3 innings of work. He walked one batter and recorded two strikeouts. Francescon (0-2) suffered the loss with one run allowed on two hits in two innings pitched. He struck out three batters and did not allow a walk.

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