MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Can't Hold Early Lead, Fall 6-5

Published on June 11, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Burlington, IA - The Peoria Chiefs scored four early and one late but lost 6-5 Monday night at Burlington to fall to 30-33 on the half. The Chiefs lost for the first time at Community Field in almost two full years.

Peoria continued their good play in Burlington in the early innings. Matt Camp led off the game with a double and Ryne Malone singled off Bees starter Ed Cigarra. Jim Adduci's groundout scored Camp for a 1-0 lead before Cigarra got out of trouble.

Blake Lalli started the Chiefs second with a single and Yusuf Carter drove one through the infield as well. After a strikeout, Dylan Johnson delivered a three-run homer over the left field wall for a 4-0 Chiefs lead. The homer is the third of the season for Johnston.

Miguel Cuevas momentarily lost his command to start the bottom of the second. After striking out the side in the first, Cuevas walked the first two Bees he faced in the second. All-Star Michael Thompson made him pay with a two-run double to the gap in left-center. But Cuevas rebounded to get a groundout and back to back strikeouts to get out of the inning.

Burlington continued to hit the ball hard off Cuevas in the third. Chris McConnell connected for a leadoff single before Brady Everett tied the game with a one-out homer to left. Jeff Howell led off the fourth with a single against Cuevas and OD Gonzalez followed with a double to left-center. Donnie Walters relieved Cuevas and gave up a RBI double to Derrick Robinson as Burlington took a 5-4 lead. After walking McConnell to load the bases, Walters retired three straight Bees to get out of the inning.

After the Chiefs left the tying run at second in the seventh, Burlington added to their lead in the bottom of the inning. Kurt Mertins led off with a single and Alex Maestri relieved Walters. Mertins stole second and third and then came home on an error by Johnston at shortstop for a 6-4 Bees lead.

Peoria rallied in the ninth. Wellington Castillo led off with a walk and was lifted for pinch runner Jonathon Mota. Pinch hitter Ryan Norwood singled into left and all runners were safe on an error by pitcher Aaron Hartsock. Malone got the Chiefs to within one with a sac fly to center as Mota scored. Henry Barrera relieved Hartsock and struck out Adduci for the second out. Josh Lansford struck out swinging to end the game.

In his second start of the season, Cuevas threw over 70 pitches and faced two batters in the fourth inning. He allowed seven hits and five runs in three innings with two walks and five strikeouts. Walters allowed one run on four hits over three innings of work while striking out three. Maestri tossed two shutout innings and struck out one while walking one.

Gorman's Pub Player of the Game

Ryne Malone (2b) - Malone singled in the first and second to extend his hit streak to 12 games. He also delivered a sac fly and finished 2-for-4 with a RBI.

Notes... Malone now has a 12-game hit streak in which he is 17-for-36 (.472) with four doubles and three homers...The Chiefs had won eight straight at Community Field with their last loss coming on July 15, 2005...Norwood's ninth inning single was the Chiefs first successful pinch hit in eight tries this season...Lansford has made the final out in each of the Chiefs last four losses...The finale of the two game series in Burlington is Tuesday at 7:00 PM...The Chiefs will throw RH Jose Pina (1-6, 5.43) against LH Everett Teaford (1-6, 5.22)...The game can be heard live beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 PM online at www.peoriachiefs.com or on WOAM 1350.

Check out the Peoria Chiefs Statistics

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



Midwest League Stories from June 11, 2007


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