Chiefs end best half in franchise history with 4-3 win
September 7, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Clinton, IA - The Peoria Chiefs ended their second-best regular season in franchise history with a 4-3 win over the Clinton LumberKings on Monday afternoon for their 81st win of the year. The victory ends the second half for the Western Division champions at 43-26 while the regular season ends at 81-57. The 2002 team is the only other squad with a 43-win half and the only team to win more regular season games with an 85-53 record. After a day off on Tuesday, the Chiefs begin the quest for a MWL title on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at home against Cedar Rapids. Both teams scored in the first inning on the last day of the regular season. Jose Valdez led off the Chiefs first with a double down the left field line and he stole third with one out. A grounder by D.J. LeMahieu scored Valdez and put the Chiefs up 1-0. Clinton came back after a scary moment in the bottom of the first. With a 0-2 count, Chiefs' starter Alberto Cabrera hit leadoff man Danny Carroll in the back of the head sending Carroll to the ground. After initially getting up and going to first, Carroll was lifted for precautionary reasons with Luis Nunez taking over as the pinch-runner. Cabrera walked Shaver Hansen and Scott Savastano reached on an infield single to load the bases. Cabrera struck out the next two batters before Nate Tenbrink's infield single to shortstop tied the game at one. The Chiefs regained the lead in the second against Andrew Carraway. With two down Michael Brenly drew a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Junior Lake drove Brenly home with a sharp single to right for a 2-1 Chiefs lead. The lead stood until the bottom of the fourth when Tenbrink led off with a long solo homer against Cabrera to tie the game at two. Cabrera pitched into more trouble with two walks, a wild pitch and an error to load the bases. However the right-hander struck out pinch-hitter Blake Ochoa to end the frame with the game still tied. Clinton took the lead against reliever Manolin DeLeon in the bottom of the sixth. After getting two quick outs, DeLeon lost his control and walked Hansen and Ochoa back-to-back. Hansen stole third with Ian Baldegroen batting as Ochoa stayed at first. DeLeon's next pitch sailed to the backstop and he couldn't handle the throw from catcher Mario Mercedes as Hansen scored for a 3-2 Clinton lead. The Chiefs rallied to take the lead against reliever Danny Cooper in the seventh. Brenly led off with a single and moved to third on a hit-and-run single by Lake. Lake stole second and Brenly scored to tie the game on a sacrifice fly by Nelson Perez. After a pitching change, Valdez put the Chiefs on top 4-3 with a RBI groundout to first as Lake scored easily. Cabrera allowed two runs on five hits and four walks over five innings while striking out seven. DeLeon (5-3) allowed a run while walking two and throwing a wild pitch in his lone inning of work. Aaron Shafer also worked a scoreless innings while hitting a batter and striking out one. Jeff Beliveau picked up his third save while striking out four and walking one over two shutout innings.
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Midwest League Stories from September 7, 2009
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