MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Drop Fourth Straight, Fall to Wisconsin 7-5

August 15, 2008 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


The Peoria Chiefs dropped their fourth straight game as they fell to the visiting Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 7-5 on Thursday night at O'Brien Field. The loss drops the Chiefs to 25-28 in the second half and 55-56 on the season.

The Chiefs jumped out to a first inning lead against Wisconsin starter and former first round pick Phillippe Aumont. Elvis Lara was hit in the hand by an Aumont pitch to lead off the game and moved to second on a ground out by Nate Samson. Jovan Rosa drove in his team-best 73rd run of the season with a single back up the middle to score Lara and put the Chiefs in front 1-0.

Wisconsin made quick work of the Chiefs lead as they tied the game in the second inning against Peoria starter Audy Santana. The Chiefs right-hander hit Joe Dunigan with a pitch to start the inning, and he went first to third on Alex Liddi's base hit. Juan Diaz flew out to left field which allowed Dunigan to score and tie the game 1-1.

The Chiefs regained the lead as they welcomed Dylan Johnston back into the lineup for the first time since June 24. Johnston did not take long to make his presence felt, as he homered on the first pitch of the second inning from Aumont to put the Chiefs back in front 2-1. The homer is Johnston's 10th of the season and third at home.

The Timber Rattlers took their first lead of the night in the fifth inning. Maximo Mendez walked against Santana to start the inning and went to second on a base hit by Daniel Carroll. The Rattlers pulled off a double steal to put a pair in scoring position. Santana left in favor of John Muller who struck out the first batter he faced but walked Joe White to load the bases. Dunigan hit what could have been an inning-ending double play to second but Jake Opitz could not get the ball cleanly out of his glove allowing Mendez to score and tie the game 2-2. The Chiefs missed another opportunity to get out of the inning when they caught Carroll in a rundown but no one covered third base allowing him to get back safely. The mistake proved to be costly as the next batter Liddi hit a three-run homer down the left field line to put Wisconsin on top 5-2.

Peoria rallied back against the Rattlers bullpen in the bottom of the fifth. Opitz doubled into the right field corner against Wisconsin reliever Jose Jimenez to start the frame. Jimenez walked Mario Mercedes and committed a balk to move both runners into scoring position. Nate Samson lined a base hit into right-center field to score Opitz to cut the deficit to 5-3. The rally continued thanks to a miscue by the Timber Rattlers defense. Rosa's grounder went through the legs of shortstop Juan Diaz allowing Mercedes to score to make it 5-4. Brandon Guyer laced a two-out single to left field to score Samson to even the score 5-5. Meyer got out of the inning with two runners on base as Johnston struck out swinging.

Wisconsin again took the lead in the ninth inning against Chiefs reliever Steve Vento. Carroll started the inning with a double to left field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Denny Almonte. White then hit a towering two-run blast that stayed just inside the foul pole in right field and eventually landed on the street giving the Timber Rattlers the lead for the final time at 7-5.

Santana worked four innings and came out for the fifth but did not retire a batter. He departed after allowing three runs on five hits while walking two and striking out one. Muller gave up two runs on one hit while walking two and striking out one in his two innings of work. Muyco worked two scoreless innings of the bullpen while allowing one hit and walking two. Vento, who was coming back after serving his three-game suspension, took the loss by allowing two runs in his only inning of work on two hits.

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Midwest League Stories from August 15, 2008


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