Chiefs Defeat Whitecaps 6-2
May 17, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Peoria, IL - With the help of a couple of homers by Robinson Chirinos and Mark Reed, the Peoria Chiefs took game two of a four-game series from the West Michigan Whitecaps 6-2 Wednesday afternoon in front of the second largest crowd of the year at O'Brien Field.
The Chiefs wasted no time getting on the board. Chirinos homered down the left field line to lead off the game on the fifth pitch by Whitecaps' starter Luke French.
Peoria added to their lead in the second. Reed laid down a perfect bunt single then stole second. Alberto Garcia was up next and blooped a single to shallow center. Matt Ciaramella walked to load the bases for Chirinos. He ripped a double into the right-center field gap scoring Reed from third, but Garcia was cut down at the plate to keep it a 2-0 game.
The Chiefs made it three consecutives innings with a score when Reed launched a two-run homer over the picnic tables in right field. The homer by the Chief designated hitter was his second in as many days and gave the Chiefs a 4-0 lead.
It became a 6-0 game in the fifth. With Jonathon Mota on first and Jesus Valdez at the plate, the Chiefs right fielder hit an opposite field single to right and thanks to an error, Mota came all the way around from first to score, and allowed Valdez to move up to second. After a wild pitch allowing Valdez to head to third, Ryan Norwood delivered a sacrifice fly to make it a six-run ballgame.
The Whitecaps got their only offense with single tallies in the sixth and seventh. In inning number six, Matthew Joyce pulled a double inside the first base bag and later came into score on Ryan Roberson's RBI single. In the seventh, Matthew Joyce doubled to right to bring home West Michigan's second run of the contest.
Starter Todd Blackford picked up his third win of the year going 6 2/3 innings giving up two runs on nine hits. Scott Koerber came on in relief and went 1 1/3 scoreless innings allowing just one hit. Ed Campusano replaced him in the ninth to throw a spotless frame. French suffered his second loss of the season. He gave up six runs, five earned, on nine hits through six frames.
Pepsi Player of the Game
Robinson Chirinos (2B) - The Chiefs' second baseman was 3-4 with a walk, a RBI double as well as his third HR of the year.
Notes... Reed's two HRs the last two days represents the first time a Chiefs' hitter has homered in back-to-back days this season......With a fifth inning single, Jesus Valdez extended his hitting streak to nine games... the 6 2/3 innings pitched by Blackford is a career high...The Chiefs turned three double plays in as many innings, marking a season high total. Attendance Wednesday afternoon was 7,922, which is the eighth largest crowd in Peoria Chiefs history..... LHP Jesus Yepez (1-2, 4.45) will start on the mound for the Chiefs going up against LHP Ramon Garcia (5-1, 1.29)...First pitch is slated for 6:30 PM and the pre-game show will kick-off at 6:15 on www.peoriachiefs.com.
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- Chiefs have their day in the sun - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Chiefs Defeat Whitecaps 6-2 - Peoria Chiefs
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