Chiefs Win in Wake of Vonachen's Passing
June 10, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Peoria, IL - With the passing of Pete Vonachen weighing heavy on the entire organization, the Peoria Chiefs came out victorious against the Quad Cities River Bandits 5-1 Monday night to secure the three-game sweep. The win moved the Chiefs record to 34-27, keeping them three and one-half games behind Beloit for the final playoff spot in the Western Division.
Prior to the game the Chiefs held an on-field ceremony honoring Pete Vonachen, who sadly passed away Monday morning. The observance began with a moment of silence, followed by a balloon release and closed with the ceremonial first pitch as a row of children passed a baseball from Mr. Vonachen's statue to the pitcher's mound. Known as Mr. Baseball, Vonachen passed away at the age of 87.
The Chiefs broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning by plating two runs against Jamaine Cotton. Jordan Walton cracked a single to center, and scored on a two-out triple by Patrick Wisdom. Martini singled in Wisdom to give the Chiefs a 2-0 lead.
After Hector Hernandez shimmied out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the fifth, the Chiefs scored three runs in the bottom of the inning. Gerwuins Velazco and Breyvic Valera led off with subsequent singles, and were both knocked in on a Wilson double. After Walton grounded out, Schaffer singled to left to plate Wilson and put the Chiefs up 5-0.
The River Bandits scored one run in the seventh inning. Ruben Sosa singled to right to lead off the frame, then stole second and third. Carlos Correa plated Sosa on a ground out to second, to make what would ultimately be the final score of 5-1.
Hernandez (3-2) pitched seven innings allowing one run on seven hits while striking out six. Joe Scanio tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings on one hit and one walk while striking out two. Robert Stock struck out the only two batters he faced to earn the save.
Notes: The Chiefs last three-game sweep came against Fort Wayne May 4-6 The sweep was the Chiefs first against the River Bandits since June 14-17, 2009Each of the Chiefs positional players recorded a hit Valera recorded his team leading 21st multi-hit game Wilson notched his 12th multi-RBI game and added to his team leading RBI total of 49 Hernandez pitched through the seventh inning for the second time this season Jimmy Parque hit his first career hit in affiliated professional ball in the sixth inning Stock recorded his first career saveThe Chiefs improved their home record to 20-10 and are 21-8 when scoring five runs or morePeoria begins a six-game road trip with game one of a three game set in Clinton on Tuesday... Peoria will start RH Silfredo Garcia (2-1, 5.84) against Clinton LH Tyler Pike (4-3, 2.55)The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Premier Print Group pre-game show at 6:40 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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