May 19, 2013
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Peoria scores four in the first inning

June 9, 2012 - Midwest League (MWL) Peoria Chiefs

Peoria, IL - With Hall of Famer Ernie "Mr. Cub" Banks among the 6,085 in attendance Saturday evening, the Peoria Chiefs cruised to a 4-1 win over the Kane County Cougars behind lefty Kyler Burke. The Chiefs, 30-32, have now won five in a row as they head into game two of the series Sunday afternoon at 2:00.

The Chiefs wasted no time jumping on the board against Scott Alexander. Zeke DeVoss led off with a walk and Pin-Chieh Chen joined him on the bases with a bunt single. An out later, Paul Hoilman made it 1-0 with a double down the left field line scoring DeVoss for the first run of the game. After a Wes Darvill groundout, Javier Baez reached on an errant throw from third baseman Michael Antonio as Chen trotted home. Baez stole second and Yasiel Balaguert walked to load the bases. Sergio Burruel kept the first inning surge going with a single to center scoring Hoilman and Baez to give the Chiefs an early 4-0 advantage. Alexander left the ballgame after Burruel's hit with an apparent injury and reliever Jason Mitchell escaped the inning.

Burke was dialed in early and he retired the first 15 Cougars he faced. The All-Star lefty struck out two in the second inning and had at least one strike out in each of the first five innings. He carried a perfect game into the sixth inning before Dean Espy led off with a single to center on the first pitch. Burke bounced back with a strikeout and two groundouts to end the inning. He struck out the first two of the seventh inning before allowing an infield single in a scoreless frame.

The Cougars finally got on the board in the top of the eighth. Larry Suarez came to the mound in relief of Burke, allowing Yowill Espinal to reach on a leadoff single. Suarez set down the next two men he faced before Tim Ferguson singled, and Justin Trapp walked to load the bases. Suarez struck out Daniel Mateo, but a wild pitch allowed him to reach safely, as Espinal came home to cut the lead to 4-1.

Burke (2-2) turned in a career-high seven innings, allowing just two hits while recording another career-high with nine strikeouts. Larry Suarez came to the mound to start the eighth, going one inning and allowing one run on two hits and a walk, while striking out two. Luis Liria came in for the ninth, tossing a perfect inning with one strikeout while recording his second save of the season.

Casey's General Store Player of the Game - Kyler Burke (SP) - The left-hander was lights out Saturday evening with a career-high seven shutout innings of work. Burke allowed just one two hits, while recording another career-high with nine strikeouts. The All-Star now leads the Chiefs rotation with an ERA of 2.13.

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Midwest League Stories from June 9, 2012


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