MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Beat Rattlers in 14 on Zapata Single

Published on May 29, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Peoria, IL - Peoria Chiefs Stadium saw its first extra-inning action Tuesday night, as infielder Kenny Socorro earned the win in a 4-3, 14-inning Peoria Chiefs victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The win puts the Chiefs at 23-29 on the season as they head to Burlington for a three-game series with the Bees starting Wednesday night at 6:30.

The Timber Rattlers got on the board first in the bottom of the second. Greg Hopkins led off blasting a 2-2 offering from Kyler Burke into the left-field berm, his third homerun of the series. The next batter, Cameron Garfield, reached second on an error by Paul Hoilman and moved to third on a wild pitch. After a walk, Yadiel Rivera hit into a force out at second allowing Garfield to trot home doubling Wisconsin's lead to 2-0.

The Chiefs cut Wisconsin's lead in half in the bottom of the second. Wes Darvill led off with a walk and Javier Baez missed a homerun by inches to left-field as it took a leaping catch by Dishon to record the out. After an Anthony Giansanti strikeout, Darvill trotted to second on a wild pitch by Drew Gagnon. With Yasiel Balaguert still in the batters box, the 19 year-old smacked a double off the right-field wall for his first professional hit and RBI, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Ryan Cuneo tied the game an inning later in the bottom of the third. With two-outs, the designated hitter cranked his fourth homerun of the season onto the Pepsi Picnic Plaza in tight field to even the score. All four of Cuneo's homers in 2012 have come at Peoria Chiefs Stadium.

The Chiefs grabbed their first lead since Sunday in the fourth inning. Baez worked a one-out walk, and stole second on the very next pitch. Giansanti blooped a single to right, plating Baez and giving Peoria a 3-2 lead.

In the top of the seventh, it was the Timber Rattler's chance to tie the game. With two-outs, Dishon wound up on second after a bunt single and a throwing error by pitcher Larry Suarez. An infield single by Stang and a walk to Macias loaded the bases for Jason Rogers. Rogers hit a ground ball up the middle that deflected off the glove of Suarez for the third infield-hit of the inning, scoring Dishon and tying the game at 3-3.

Despite both teams having numerous chances, the game remained 3-3 into extra innings. Kenny Socorro, a Chiefs infielder, was forced to make his season-debut in the 13th inning on the mound. In his first inning of work since 2008 in college, Socorro threw just six pitches. Socorro set down the first man he saw, Garfield, on a flyball to right. The 22 year-old then struck out Walla, and got Rivera to groundout to end the inning. The 14th inning was more of the same for Socorro as he set down Dishon, Stang, and Macias in order all on fly outs.

The Chiefs finally ended the marathon in the bottom of the 14th. With two outs, Chen walked and stole second before DeVoss walked to join him on the base paths. Oliver Zapata, who was 0-for-6 coming into the at-bat, ended the ballgame with a single to left-center as Chen barely beat out a throw from Dishon as Garfield lost control of the ball on the slide.

Burke threw five innings, allowing one earned run on a hit and five walks. He struck out two and allowed two runs total. Suarez replaced Burke to start the sixth and tossed two innings, He allowed one run on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts in the blown save. Luis Liria struck out one and allowed one hit in a shutout inning. Yao-Lin Wang pitched two shutout innings allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four. Sheldon McDonald hurled two scoreless innings allowing two hits and one walk and striking out a pair. Position player Kenny Socorro (1-0) picked up the victory in his professional pitching debut, hurling two perfect innings and recording a strikeout.

Casey's General Store Player of the Game - Kenny Socorro (P) - The infielder made his 2012 season-debut Tuesday night. To the surprise of many, the debut came on the mound as the Chiefs were forced to resort to a position player in the 14-inning marathon. Socorro finished with two perfect innings, recording a strikeout.

Notes: Tuesday was the first extra-inning game this season at Peoria Chiefs Stadium...The Chiefs are now 3-1 in extra innings in 2012...The 14 innings played is the longest game so far in 2012 for the Chiefs...The 4 hours and 18 minute game-time is also the longest so far this season for Peoria...This was the first win for the Chiefs in stadium history in a game longer than 12 inningsPrior to Tuesday the Chiefs were 0-5 in games 13 innings or longer at home since 2002Tuesday was the professional pitching debut for Socorro... The last time a position player recorded a win for the Chiefs was May 20, 2010 when Mario Mercedes accomplished the feat against Wisconsin in a 15 inning contest...Balaguert's second inning RBI double was his first professional hit as well as his first RBI...The second-inning stolen base was the first of the year for Baez... Cuneo's third-inning homerun was his team-leading fourth of the season, all at home...The solo-shot was Cuneo's first homerun since April 16 (122 at-bats)...The five walks for Burke is a career-high...Tuesday was only the second time in Burke's last six starts that he hasn't made it through six innings (five innings on May 19 against Cedar Rapids)...The Chiefs will now travel to Burlington for a three-game series against the Bees...Game one of the series will be Wednesday night at 6:30...Peoria will send RH Ben Wells (3-2, 4.15) to the mound against RH Seth Frankhoff (0-3, 4.15)...The broadcast can be heard, starting with the pre-game show at 6:15 p.m. on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive which also has downloads for a free app on the iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Android.

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Midwest League Stories from May 29, 2012


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