MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Record Second Straight Shutout in Wednesday Win

Published on June 6, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Peoria, IL - - The Peoria Chiefs returned home Wednesday night and recorded their second straight shutout with a 4-0 win over the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Peoria Chiefs Stadium. The win puts the Chiefs at 27-32, 4-1 in June, as they head into game two of the series Thursday night at 7:00.

After Gerardo Concepcion tight-roped out of danger in the top of the first, the Chiefs jumped on the board in the bottom half. Zeke DeVoss worked a four-pitch walk and Taiwan Easterling put runners on the corners with a single to center. Wes Darvill struck out swinging, but a wild pitch put Easterling on second for Paul Hoilman. Hoilman watched a 0-1 offering from Eswarlin Jimenez sail to the backstop scoring DeVoss for the first run of the ballgame. Easterling was tagged out at home by the catcher trying to score on another pitch in the dirt to end the inning.

Concepcion carried a no-hitter in to the top of the sixth when Ryan Jones and Kaleb Cowart strung together back-to-back infield singles. Concepcion bounced back to strikeout Frazier Hall before being replaced by Starling Peralta. Peralta walked Andy Workman, but was saved by a spectacular play by shortstop Javier Baez preserving the 1-0 lead to end the frame.

DeVoss and Easterling were at it again in the bottom of the sixth. DeVoss led off with a double to left-center field before Easterling smacked a two-run shot over the berm in left to make it 3-0. Darvill followed with a single to left and Hoilman walked before Yasiel Balaguert grounded into a force out leaving runners on the corners for Baez. The 19-year-old laced a single to center extending Peoria's lead to 4-0.

The Kernels threatened in the bottom of the ninth. Austin Reed, in his second inning of work, loaded the bases with a double by Carlos Lugo and back-to-back walks to Chevy Clarke and Kevin Moesquit. With one out, Yao-Lin Wang came to the mound in a save opportunity with the tying run at the plate. Wang was able to get a ground ball back to the mound, firing home to catcher Yaniel Cabezas who snapped a throw to Hoilman to complete the game-ending double play.

Concepcion (2-4) tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing two hits and four walks. The left-hander struck out four while improving to 2-1 at home. Peralta threw 1 1/3 innings of relief, allowing one hit and one walk while recording one strikeout. Reed went 1 1/3 innings as well, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out three. Yao-Lin Wang came in to finish the ninth, getting a 1-2-3 double play to end the ballgame to secure his sixth save of the season.

Casey's General Store Player of the Game - Taiwan Easterling (CF) - The center-fielder smacked a two-run homerun in the bottom of sixth to give Peoria a 3-0 lead. Easterling finished 3-for-4 with two singles, the homer, and a pair of RBI. The homerun was his second in the month of June.

Notes: The Chiefs have now recorded back-to-back to shutouts with a 2-0 win in Kane County on Monday and the 4-0 win Wednesday...Peoria had just one shutout in all of May (2-0 win against Burlington on 5/15), and they now have five on the season...Concepcion tied a career-high with four strikeouts...Wednesday was third game in-a-row in which Concepcion recorded four strikeouts...It is also the second straight game Concepcion has walked four batters...The two hits surrendered by Concepcion matched a career-low (third time)...Both of Concepcion's wins this year have been at home...The homerun for Easterling was his second of the year and his first at home in 2012...Reed struck out the side in the eighth inning...The RBI in the sixth was the first at home for Baez...The triple was the first of Baez's career...Wednesday was the second three-hit game of the season for both Easterling and Baez...The save for Wang was his sixth of the season...Wang leads the current roster with six saves, Jeff Lorick who is now with High-A Daytona had six as well before his promotion...Game two of the series will be Thursday night with first pitch at 7:00...Thursday is another Thirsty Thursday with $1 draft beers and fountain sodas presented by Budweiser and Kelleher's...Fans can take their ticket to Kelleher's after the game and register to win 10 tickets to a September Chicago Cubs game, with the drawing to be held on August 30...Thursday is also College Night as the Chiefs welcome home all Central Illinois College students...The Chiefs will send RH Michael Jensen (5-2, 2.51) to the mound against RH Dan Reynolds (0-0, 7.36)...The broadcast can be heard, starting with the pre-game show at 6:45 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 June 6, 2012


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