MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Blown Out in Series Finale

Published on June 27, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Clinton, IA - The Peoria Chiefs fell behind early and suffered their worst loss since May 30 in an 8-3 setback to the Clinton LumberKings Wednesday night. The Chiefs still took two of three in the series and head to Appleton, Wisconsin at 38-37 overall and 3-3 in the second half.

Clinton jumped to an early lead against Jose Rosario in the second inning. With one out Dan Paolini, Guillermo Pimentel and Michael Dowd connected on consecutive singles. After Rosario struck out Anthony Phillips, Zeke DeVoss made an error on a groundball and Paolini scored the first run of the game.

The Chiefs tied the game in the third against Trevor Miller. Oliver Zapata started the inning with a single to center and he stole second base. DeVoss laid down a bunt single and Zapata came around to score on a throwing error to third by first baseman Ji-Man Choi. The Chiefs would not get another hit against Miller until the ninth inning.

Clinton took the lead for good in the fourth through the same trio that scored a run in the second inning. Paolini walked before Pimentel and Dowd each singled. Rosario struck out Phillips but Nate Melendres beat out a possible double-play ball as Paolini scored with Pimentel out at second.

The hosts extended the lead with solo tallies in each of the next two frames. Choi led off the fifth with a solo home run, his second of the series for a 3-1 Clinton lead. With reliever Sheldon McDonald in the ball game, Clinton picked up an unearned run in the sixth. Dowd led off with a single and with one out Melendres drew a walk. Mario Yepez hit a comebacker and McDonald threw down the right-field line as Dowd scored for a 4-1 Clinton lead.

The LumberKings put the game out of reach in the seventh. Jabari Blash greeted Austin Reed with a single and with one down Pimentel singled Blash to third. Dowd made it 5-1 with his fourth hit of the game and Melendres launched a two-out homer to left for an 8-1 Clinton lead.

Peoria finally got to Miller in the ninth. Dustin Geiger led off with a single and scored on a double to the wall by Paul Hoilman. Hoilman moved to third on a groundout by Javier Baez and John Taylor relieved Miller. Anthony Giansanti singled off Taylor to score Hoilman and cut the lead to 8-3 before Yasiel Balaguert bounced into a game-ending double play.

Rosario (6-7) allowed three runs, two earned, on nine hits over five innings. He walked one, struck out four and allowed a home run. McDonald allowed an unearned run on one walk and one hit in his one inning while striking out one. Reed allowed four runs on five hits with a strikeouts in two innings.

Casey's General Store Player of the Game - Dustin Geiger (3B) - Geiger was the only Chief with more than one hit Wednesday night as he went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Dustin has hit safely in 12 straight games and singled off Miller in both the first and ninth innings.

Notes: Geiger has hit safely in a career-best 12 straight gamesDarvill batted second for the first time since May 19Zapata made his second start in centerfieldMay 13 was the only other game this season where either Pin-Chieh Chen or Taiwan Easterling didn't start in the outfieldGiansanti, who set a Chiefs record with 24 outfield assists in 2011, picked up his first of the season in the bottom of the firstThe loss was the largest for the Chiefs since a 10-1 setback at Burlington on May 30Each of the last six losses have been by just one or two runsThe Chiefs are 7-4 against Clinton this season, 3-3 in Iowa and had won six straight over the LumberKings before Wednesday...The last time Clinton beat Peoria the same two starting pitchers were on the hill May 23 as Clinton won 11-0Rosario is 0-3 against Clinton this season, 6-4 against the rest of the leagueMiller tied a career high with eight strikeouts and set a new career high with 8/13 innings pitchedHe retired 18 of 19 batters from the third to ninth innings with just a hit by pitch of Hoilman to reach baseThe Chiefs are now 3-8-1 in 12 road series in 2012, 6-6 in the final game of a road seriesThe Chiefs now head to Appleton, Wisconsin for a three-game series against the First Half Western Division Champion Wisconsin Timber RattlersThursday at 7:05 p.m. the Chiefs send LH Gerardo Concepcion (2-5, 7.38) to the mound against RH Chad Pierce (1-2, 3.73)The Chiefs were scheduled to face All-Star David Gagnon but he was promoted on WednesdayThe broadcast can be heard, starting with a pre-game show at 6:50 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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