Chiefs Defeat Cougars 5-1 Tuesday Night
Published on August 14, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Peoria, IL- The Peoria Chiefs earned a split of a two game series with the Kane County Cougars with a 5-1 win at O'Brien Field Tuesday evening. The win improves the Chiefs to 30-21 in the half and 61-59 overall and puts them 3 ½ games ahead of both Kane County and Burlington.
For the second consecutive night the Kane County Cougars jumped on the Chiefs early in the 1st inning. Kane County shortstop Josh Horton hit a one-out solo home run in off Chiefs starter Marco Carrillo to put the Cougars on top 1-0.
Peoria's defense helped keep the game within one in the top of the second inning. After an Alex Valdez single to left field, Nate Samson and Darwin Barney combined to turn a breathtaking double play to rob Sean Doolittle of a hit and record the first two outs of the inning. It was the 95th double play turned by the Chiefs this season.
The Cougars threatened again in the third inning. Carrillo issued back-to-back walks to Michael Massaro and Horton with two outs. Jermaine Mitchell's chopper up the middle forced Samson into a tough play that resulted in an infield single to load the bases. The next batter Greg Dowling was robbed of a hit by Samson who dove to up the middle to stop the ball and record the force at second to end the inning.
Peoria got their first base runner off Cougars starter Travis Banwart as Samson recorded a hit with two outs in the bottom of the third inning. Leon Johnson walked to put runners at first and second. Barney hit a slow rolling single to third with two outs that was thrown away by Cougars third baseman Alex Valdez to allow Samson to score and tie the game 1-1. Jim Adduci legged out an infield single to score Johnson and take the lead. With runners at first and second, Adduci got caught in a rundown between first and second but Banwart threw past second base for the second error of the inning allowing Barney to score and moving the lead to 3-1.
The Chiefs added to their lead in the sixth inning as Lalli started things with a one out stand-up double to left center. Derek Schermerhorn flied out to deep right field to advance Lalli to third. Clark Hardman delivered a single with two outs for his seventh RBI of the season to score Lalli and make the lead 4-1.
Peoria added more insurance against reliever Scott Deal in the 8th inning as Johnson led off with a single into right field. Manager Ryne Sandberg called for a hit and run that was executed perfectly as Barney singled past second baseman Larry Cobb and moved Johnson to third. Adduci drove in his second run of the game with a sacrifice fly to center to score Johnson and extend the lead to 5-1.
Carrillo (5-5) earned the win while Banwart (1-1) took the loss. Carrillo finished the game working 5 1/3 innings allowing just the first inning run on four hits and two walks while striking out three. Jayson Ruhlman pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings, striking out one and hitting a batter. Jose Ceda threw one inning of work striking out the side in order. Closer Alex Maestri pitched a perfect ninth inning in a non-save situation striking out one.
Gorman's Pub Player of the Game Marco Carrillo (SP) - The Chiefs starter earned his fifth win of the season giving the Chiefs 5 1/3 quality innings. After working out of trouble in the third, Carrillo retired seven of the next eight hitters before handing the ball over to his bullpen.
Playoff Watch: The top two teams in the division excluding Beloit and Clinton will make the playoffs. With 19 games remaining, the Chiefs are in the Wild Card spot, 2 ½ game behind Quad Cities who beat Fort Wayne 7-6 and earn a sweep over the Wizards. The Chiefs are now 3 ½ games up on both Kane County and Burlington who lost 5-3 to Dayton Tuesday night in the Wild Card race. The Chiefs have two games (all at home) left against Kane County and two at Quad Cities. The Wild Card team will play Beloit in the first round while the Second Half Champion will play Clinton.
Notes...The Chiefs three run fourth inning snapped a 11 2/3 scoreless streak for the offense...Carrillo has pitched at least five innings in his last ten starts...Ruhlman made his team high 44th appearance of the season... Ceda has struck out eight of the last nine batters he has faced over his last three outing... Peoria takes the season series advantage over the Cougars 6-5 with two games remaining both at O'Brien Field... The Chiefs will get Wednesday off before heading to Cedar Rapids for a two game series...The Chiefs will send RHP Jake Renshaw (12-7, 4.09) to the hill against Cedar Rapids RHP Sean O'Sullivan (8-6, 2.37)...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.
Midwest League Stories from August 14, 2007
- Twins Extend Affiliation with Snappers - Beloit Sky Carp
- Snappers Walk Off Winners - Beloit Sky Carp
- Dragons End Bees Winning Streak - Burlington Bees
- Fien Returns Favor with Extra-Inning Win - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Rattlers Fall in 11 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Swing Walk Off Again, Sweep Series - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Beloit Walks-Off With Win - Lansing Lugnuts
- Cougars Fall, Split Series with Chiefs - Kane County Cougars
- Dragons Pull Off Get Away Day Win - Dayton Dragons
- Chiefs Defeat Cougars 5-1 Tuesday Night - Peoria Chiefs
- Loons take series finale, 5-3 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Dragons Lose Esquer to Sarasota - Dayton Dragons
- Loons Take Series from Cedar Rapids - Great Lakes Loons
- Former 'Caps Contributing in Tigers Pennant Race - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Peterson Activated from DL - Great Lakes Loons
- Kernels fall to Great Lakes, 3-2 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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