MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs bullpen blows two leads, lose at Lansing

Published on July 21, 2005 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Lansing, MI - Grant Johnson tossed 5 2/3 innings of two hit ball while Ryan Harvey and Sam Fuld homered but the Peoria Chiefs bullpen blew two late leads and the Lansing Lugnuts defeated the Chiefs 7-6 in 10 innings Thursday night. With the loss the Chiefs fall to 11-15 on the half and 46-51 on the season. The bullpen has blown seven saves in July and has a cumulative 1-7 record on the month.

Closer Drew Dickson (0-1) entered in the bottom of the 10th and gave up a lead off single to Christian Snavely before balking the runner to second. Pinch runner Luke Hetherington replaced Snavely and Dickson intentionally walked Eric Nielsen before uncorking a wild pitch. Aaron Mathews tied the game with a sac fly and Dickson intentionally walked Joey Reiman and David Hicks to load the bases with one out. Ryan Klosterman won the game with a single to left-center scoring Nielsen for the 7-5 Lugnuts win.

Drew Larsen slammed the first pitch of the 10th inning into the left-center field berm for a solo homer off Scott Roy to give the Chiefs a 6-5 lead. The homer was Larsen's third of the season and the first extra inning homer for the Chiefs on the road in 2005.

After waiting more than 40 minutes to start the game, the Chiefs wasted no time getting on the board against Lansing started Danny Core. Leadoff batter Sam Fuld connected on the 4th pitch of the game for a solo homer to right-field his second of the season. The blast bounced off the chain link fence above the extended right-field wall for the Chiefs first lead-off homer of 2005.

Eric Patterson started a 4th inning rally with a leadoff triple just inside the first base line. Core hit Ryan Harvey with a pitch before Jesse Schmidt reached on an infield single to score Patterson for a 2-0 lead. Bo Flowers followed with a single to left-center to bring home Harvey before Aaron Smith capped the inning be driving home Schmidt for a 4-0 lead.

Lansing went to the bullpen to start the 5th inning as right-hander Juan Perez replaced Core. After getting two quick outs, Perez gave up a solo homer to Harvey as the Chiefs built a 5-0 lead. The homer, Harvey's league leading 17th of the season, moves the right-fielder into a tie with Albert Pujols for 10th on the Chiefs single season home run list.

Johnson took a no hitter through 4 1/3 innings before Ryan Klosterman doubled into the right field corner. After a pop-up, Eugenio Velez grounded a ball off the glove of Anthony Granato at shortstop as Klosterman scored. The play was originally ruled an error but later changed to a hit costing Johnson an earned run. Johnson pitched 5 2/3 innings allowing just one run on two hits while striking out four and walking two. Mike Phelps struck out the only batter he faced in the 6th and Tim Layden retired the Lugnuts in order in the 7th.

Layden started the 8th and allowed a leadoff single to Velez before issuing back to back walks to load the bases with no outs. Former Lugnuts closer Adalberto Mendez came on for the Chiefs and gave up a RBI groundout to Eric Nielson and two-run double to Charlie Anderson as Lansing closed to within 5-4. Aaron Mathews pinch ran for Anderson, stole third and scored on a single by David Hicks to tie the game 5-5.

Pepsi Players of the Game Grant Johnson (SP) - The Chiefs right-hander was robbed of an earned run by a scoring change and retired 12 of the first 14 batters he faced. The 2nd round pick, rebounded from two rough outings and deserved his 2nd win of the season. He struck out four and walked two in 5 2/3 innings of work.

Notes... The Chiefs bullpen has allowed at least one run in nine of the last 11 games...Harvey's homer was his 7th in July, four shy of the Chiefs record for homers in a calendar month...The start of game was delayed 43 minutes by minimal rain and dark clouds...The game marked he return of Chiefs manager Julio Garcia to Lansing where he managed the last four years and won the Midwest League Championship in 2003...The Chiefs are in a stretch of 12 straight games against the Eastern Division with the next game against a Western Division foe on August 2nd...The two teams will play game two of the four game series Friday night at 7:05 Eastern time...The Chiefs will have LH Chris Shaver on the mound against LH AJ Wideman...The game can be heard on 1350 WOAM and www.peoriachiefs.com.

Check out the Peoria Chiefs Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Midwest League Stories from July 21, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central