Chiefs Avoid Sweep with 4-2 Win Over Rattlers
July 14, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Peoria, IL - Behind a three-run third inning and the quality starting pitching of Mitch Atkins, the Peoria Chiefs salvaged the third and final game of the series against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, defeating their Eastern division opponent 4-2 Friday night at O'Brien Field.
The Chiefs took advantage of a defensive miscue by Wisconsin to get ahead in the third. With the game scoreless, Alberto Garcia walked and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a throwing error by Ron Garth at third base. Nate Price, who laid down the bunt, also reached base on the play. Ryne Malone came through, lifting a double that straddled the chalk down the left field line to score Garcia. Jesus Valdez drove in the second run of the inning on a one-hopper that bounced off the plate. With runners on first and third and only one away, Ryan Norwood hit a bouncing ball up the middle to plate Malone and give the Chiefs a 3-0 lead.
Wisconsin got one back in the top of the fourth. Ron Garth doubled on a ball of the wall and came to the plate on a sacrifice fly by Luis Valbuena to cut the Chiefs' lead to 3-1. Peoria stole the run right back in the0ir half of the fourth on an RBI groundout to second off the bat of Malone.
The Timber Rattlers tallied another single run in the top of the sixth. After a Mike Saunders single that was just over the outstretched glove of Chirinos at second, Garth hit his second double of the game, a rocket to center that scored Saunders and made it a 4-2 game.
Atkins went six innings and allowed two runs on four hits in picking up his eighth win of the year. Justin Rayborn came on in relief and fired two innings of one-hit baseball, and Matt Avery struck out the side in the ninth to nail down his ninth save of the season. Rattlers' starter Marwin Vega gave up four runs, two earned, in his four innings of work. Pepsi Player of the Game Ryne Malone (3B) - The Chiefs' infielder was 1-4 on the night including a double, a run scored and two RBIs.
Midwest League Stories from July 14, 2006
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- Chiefs Avoid Sweep with 4-2 Win Over Rattlers - Peoria Chiefs
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