Chiefs clinch playoff berth with 1-0 shutout victory
June 12, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Peoria, IL -The Peoria Chiefs have clinched a berth in the Midwest League Playoffs with their 7th straight victory, a 1-0 shutout over the Clinton LumberKings in game three of a four-game set Monday night at O'Brien Field. This will mark the third time in the last five years the Chiefs have appeared in the MWL playoffs, winning the MWL championship in 2002 and losing to Kane County in the first round back in 2004.
With the game scoreless in the bottom half of the third, the Chiefs used a two out rally to plate the game's only run. With two away and nobody on, Davy Gregg sprayed a liner to left and stole second. After a Robinson Chirinos walk, Mark Reed ripped a hard ground ball through the right side to score Gregg and give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead, a lead they would not relinquish.
Clinton had a chance to tie it in the ninth. They had the potential tying run on second and the go ahead run on first against Matt Avery, but the Chiefs reliever got Brian Valichka to pop out to Dylan Johnston to end it and clinch a playoff berth for Peoria.
Blackford turned in a magnificent performance for the second time in a row. He went 6 2/3 innings allowing no runs on four hits in a winning effort. Jeff Teasley was perfect in 1 1/3 innings, and Avery came on in the ninth to record his first career save. Clinton starter Jake Rasner was the tough luck loser. He tossed seven innings of one-run baseball, giving up seven hits to Chiefs' hitters.
Pepsi Player of the Game
Todd Blackford (RHP) - The Chiefs' starter picked up his 6th win of the season. Blackford has not allowed a run in three of his last four starts.
Notes... The six wins by Blackford is a team-high...The seven game winning streak by the Chiefs is a season-high and their longest since 2003...With the Chiefs win, Peoria has clinched at least a playoff berth. They still have a chance at winning the MWL Western division championship, with four games left against division leader Kane County, who lead the Chiefs by two games coming into tonight's action...Attendance Monday night was 2,119...LHP Jesus Yepez (2-2, 3.29) will start on the mound for the Chiefs tomorrow going up against RHP Juan Jimenez (1-2, 3.73) ...First pitch of the first game is slated for 7:00 PM and the pre-game show will kick-off at 6:45 on www.peoriachiefs.com.
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