MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Fall 3-2 Friday

Published on July 25, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Dayton, OH - The Peoria Chiefs were swept out of Ohio by the Dayton Dragons 3-2 Friday night as the home team took their third straight one-run win in front of 8,920 fans at Fifth Third Field. The first-place Chiefs lead 2-0 into the eighth inning before allowing three runs to fall to 21-13 on the half. Newcomer Josh Harrison made his presence known immediately with a leadoff bunt single, and he advanced to second on a throwing error by third baseman Brandon Waring. Nate Samson followed with another bunt single and Harrison scored with Samson moving to second as Dragons starter Matt Klinker fired the ball down the right-field line. Down 1-0, Klinker recovered as Jonathan Wyatt bounced out, Jovan Rosa struck out and Rebel Ridling lined out to end the inning. Peoria doubled their lead in the fourth against Klinker. Wyatt led off with a double into the left-field corner and moved to third on a single by Rosa. Ridling put the Chiefs on top 2-0 with a sacrifice fly to center before Klinker escaped the inning. The Chiefs took the 2-0 lead into the eighth with Zach Ashwood on the mound for his second inning of work. Jason Bour started the eighth with a solo home run, his third of the season, over the gate in left-center. Ashwood then walked Brandon Menchaca and Mike McKennon laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the tying run into scoring position. Kevin Fiener doubled down the right-field line to easily plate Menchaca and tie the game. After Ashwood struck out lefty Justin Reed, Jake Muyco came out of the bullpen to face a right-handed pinch-hitter, Zack Cozart. Cozart hit a flare to right that hit the glove of a diving Elvis Lara to score Feiner for a 3-2 Dayton lead. Muyco retired Neftali Soto to get out of the inning, but the damage was done. The Chiefs did mount a threat in the ninth against closer Aguido Gonzalez. With two down, Luis Bautista reached on an infield single. Pinch-runner Cliff Andersen moved to second on a balk by Gonzalez. Andersen was on the move on a 3-2 pitch to Luis Flores, but Flores lined out to third base to end the game. Hernandez turned in his second quality start of the season with six shutout innings. The 19-year-old allowed just two singles and a walk while striking out three. The Dragons never had an at-bat against him with a runner past first base. Ashwood (5-7) takes the loss after allowing three runs on two hits and a walk while striking out four over 1 2/3 innings. The blown save is Ashwood's first of the season, and the loss is his first since May. Muyco gave up one hit in 1/3 of an inning while facing just two batters.

Player of the Game - Robert Hernandez (SP) - Hernandez allowed just three base-runners over six innings while keeping the high-powered Dragons offense off the scoreboard. The only two hits were both by Phipps as Hernandez kept the other eight hitters off balance all night with a mixture of fastballs and changeups. He takes his sixth no-decision in his second quality start after the blown save.

Notes... Samson has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 starts...Ridling has either scored or driven in a run in five straight games...Ashwood is second in the MWL with 13 home runs allowed...Seven total batters were hit by a pitch in the three-game series, five by Dayton pitchers and two by Chiefs pitchers...The Chiefs were just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position while Dayton was 1-for-1...After winning 11 straight close games, the Chiefs have lost four straight 1-run games, including all three in this season...Dayton outscored Peoria 13-10 in the series while out-hitting the Chiefs just 22-20...Peoria blew two saves in the series, both in the eighth inning, after blowing just one save in their first 18 games in July...After beginning the season 41-1 when leading after seven innings, the Chiefs have lost two straight when taking a lead into the eighth...Harrison was 2-for-4 with a run scored in his Chiefs debut...The top three hitters in the Chiefs lineup were 5-for-11 with a walk, double, triple and both runs scored...The Chiefs are 3-5 this season without Manager Ryne Sandberg who is in Cooperstown, NY for this weekend's Hall of Fame inductions...The Chiefs now head to Fort Wayne for a three-game series which begins Saturday at 7:00 pm EST... Peoria will send RH Kevin Kreier (5-3, 3.25) to the hill against Wizards RH Jeremy Hefner (7-3, 3.96)...The game can be heard live beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 pm EST online at www.peoriachiefs.com or on WOAM 1350 AM.

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Midwest League Stories from July 25, 2008


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