MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Geiger and Zapata Homer Chiefs to Holiday Win

Published on July 4, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Peoria, IL - The Peoria Chiefs ended their seven-game losing streak with three homers and an 8-2 4th of July win over the Burlington Bees at Peoria Chiefs Stadium. The win gives the Chiefs a second half record of 4-9 and their record is 39-43 on the season.

The Chiefs grabbed a lead in the bottom of the first against Burlington starter Drew Granier. After two quick outs by, Dustin Geiger put Peoria up 1-0 by crushing a first pitch offering into the palm trees. The shot was his fourth of the season and the first homer for the Chiefs in the homestand.

The lead didn't last long as Burlington scored in the top of the third. Nick Rickles started the inning with a fly ball single to left and on a one-out ground ball by Aaron Shipman, Zeke DeVoss threw wildly to second and both runners were safe. Eliezer Mesa grounded a Michael Jensen pitch into right to bring home Rickles and the score was knotted at one.

In the top of the sixth, the Bees used more two-out scoring to grab the lead. Jensen retired the first two hitters of the inning on ground balls and got ahead of Douglas Landaeta 0-2, however, the two strike offering was driven into left center for a homer and Burlington led 2-1.

Peoria was quick to answer in the bottom of the sixth. DeVoss drew a one-out walk but was thrown out stealing second with the heart of the order coming up. With two outs, Taiwan Easterling doubled into left center and Dustin Geiger hit his second homer of the game to left center and the Chiefs led 3-2.

The game could have been tied in the top of the seventh had it not been for a great play by Easterling. Chih-Fang Pan bunted a ball between the mound and first to start off the inning with a single. After a strikeout by reliever Austin Reed, Sean Jamieson drove a ball deep into left center. Pan was already around second when Easterling caught the ball on the run and he fired the ball to Paul Hoilman who tagged first for the double play and the Chiefs were out of the inning.

The bottom of the eighth provided the Chiefs plenty of insurance. DeVoss tripled on a ground ball down the right field line and Easterling drove him home with a double and the Chiefs had a 4-2 advantage. Reliever Jose Macias threw a wild pitch to put Easterling on third. Geiger was intentionally walked and Hoilman struck out for the second out of the inning. Javier Baez singled on the eighth pitch of his at bat to right scoring Easterling and the lead grew to 5-2. Oliver Zapata came up with runners on the corners and drove a two-strike Macias offering off the net beyond the right field wall for a three-run homer and Peoria was up 8-2

Jensen (8-3) turned in a quality start by going six innings and allowing two runs, one earned. He allowed six hits on the evening and he struck out five without a walk. In two innings, Reed allowed one hit and he struck out three. Yao-Lin Wang pitched the ninth despite not being a save situation. He allowed two base hits but no runs and he struck out one.

Casey's General Store Player of the Game - Dustin Geiger (3B) - Geiger was a force at the plate as he drove two out of the park and collected a walk. He scored three times and drove in three. The homers give him five on the season which is a career single-season high.

Notes: The Geiger homer in the first was the first lead the Chiefs have had at the end of an inning in 40 innings... Wednesday's game was the first multi-home run game of Geiger's career...The Chiefs hit three home runs which ties a season high for one game...They also hit three homers on April 16 against Cedar Rapids when Ryan Cuneo hit twoThis was the second time this season the Chiefs have had a player hit multiple homers in the same gameOf the Chiefs first six hits, five were extra bases with two doubles by Easterling, two homers by Geiger, and a triple by Zeke DeVossThe run given up by Jensen in the third was the first earned run he has given up against Burlington in 8 1/3 innings...The quality start by Jensen was his sixth of the season which is the most among current Chiefs starters...Jensen won his eighth game of the season which leads the squad and is the second most in the MWL...The eight runs in Wednesday's game was more than the Chiefs scored in the previous three games combined...The series continues Thursday at 7:00 p.m. with Thirsty Thursday as fans can get $1 12 oz. domestic drafts and fountain drinks...All fans get $1 Lawn TicketsThe Chiefs will send RH Zach Cates (0-1, 5.19) and Burlington will counter with RH AJ Cole (4-0, 2.58)...The broadcast can be heard, starting with a 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 July 4, 2012


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