Wood Wins In Relief as Chiefs Top Wizards 9-3
July 24, 2007 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Peoria, IL- Kerry Wood worked a scoreless fifth inning in his first rehab appearance in Peoria and picked up his first rehab win as the Chiefs defeated Fort Wayne 9-3 Tuesday night. He threw 12 pitches and got and allowed just one base runner as the Chiefs improve to 20-11 on the half and 51-49 overall.
Wood entered the game in the fifth inning with the Chiefs a head 4-0. Wood's first pitch was a comebacker to the mound that he fielded and threw out Michael Campbell. He then issued a five pitch walk to Jodam Rivera before getting Jesus Lopez to ground out to short and Matt Stocco to fly out to center to end the inning. Wood threw 12 pitches, 11 of which were fastballs allowing one walk and no hits in his only inning of work. He left to a standing ovation from the crowd of 5,255.
The Chiefs got to Wizards starter Brandon Gomes in the third inning. Nate Samson started the inning with a solid line drive single to center field. Leon Johnson followed with an opposite field single to put two runners on with no outs. Darwin Barney dropped down a sacrifice bunt but beat the throw to load the bases still with no outs. Henry Blanco hit into what looked to be an inning ending double play but the second basemen did not field the ball cleanly and two runs came into score to make it 2-0. Blake Lalli picked up an RBI with an opposite field single to score Barney to make it 3-0.
Peoria added to their lead in the fourth inning after Ryne Malone led off with a single. Nate Samson grounded out to move Malone into scoring position. Johnson delivered his third RBI of the season with a base hit to score Malone to make it 4-0.
The Chiefs continued to build the lead in the fifth inning after a one out double by Lalli. Russ Canzler followed with a double of his own to score Lalli to make it 5-0. Ryne Malone added the third straight double off the right field wall to plate Canzler to make it 6-0. The Chiefs continued the two out rally when Johnson picked up his third hit of the game and second RBI to make it 7-0.
Jayson Ruhlman ran into trouble in the seventh inning loading the bases with no outs. Matt Stocco drove in the first Fort Wayne runs with a single off the second base bag that rolled into centerfield. Matt Maradeo replaced Ruhlman and inherited runners at the corners with no outs. Keith Conlon added an RBI in his first Wizard plate appearance with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to cut the lead to 7-3. Ryne Malone's seventh inning double, nearly left the ball park and was hit well enough to drive in Russ Canzler in from first base and extend the lead to 8-3. Samson grounded out to short and moved Malone 90 feet closer as he advanced to third. Brian Leclerc, who entered, as a defensive replacement in the top half of the seventh, and brought home Malone with a sacrifice fly to right field to make it a 9-3.
Bartek tossed four scoreless innings in his first professional start. He allowed just one hit while striking out three and walking just one. Ruhlman finished the night going one inning while allowing four hits and three runs. He struck out a pair but also walked two. Maradeo went two scoreless innings and did not allow a hit while striking out one. Alex Maestri threw a scoreless ninth inning striking out two to secure the win.
Gorman's Pub Player of the Game Ryne Malone (3B) & Michael Bartek (SP)- Malone went 3-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. Bartek got the call to start late in the afternoon and answered with four scoreless innings issuing just one hit in his first professional start.
Notes... Cubs catcher Henry Blanco was 0-for-3 with an RBI and is now 3-for-9 with four RBI in four rehab games...He and Wood are both expected to continue their rehab on Thursday...Lalli has hit safely in eight of the last nine games...5,255 fans were in attendance for Tuesday's game...Prior to the game the largest attendance on a Tuesday this season was 3,229...It is the largest Tuesday attendance since August 2, 2005 when 8,012 came to watch Kerry Wood's first home rehab...Peoria is 12-13-7 in series this season...On free hotdog night the Chiefs gave away 11,200 hotdogs...The Chiefs now have Wednesday off before opening a four game set with the Dayton Dragons on Thursday evening at 7:00 PM...The Blues Brothers will be performing throughout the night...It is also Throwback Thursday as the Chiefs will wear uniforms from the 1980's...The first 1000 fans will receive a replica jersey t-shirt of Albert Pujols from the 2000 season he spent in Peoria...Thursday is also Taco Bell Thursday where if the Chiefs score four or more runs all fans in attendance can redeem their ticket at any participating central Illinois Taco Bell for a free taco...The Chiefs will send RHP Jake Renshaw (10-5, 3.93) to the hill against Dayton Right Alexander Smit (0-1, 2.57)...The game can be heard live beginning with the pre-game at 6:45 PM online at www.peoriachiefs.com or on WOAM 1350.
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