MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Fall 4-2 Thursday

Published on July 19, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Comstock Park, MI - The Peoria Chiefs allowed three unearned runs and fell 4-2 to the West Michigan Whitecaps on Thursday night to start the roadtrip 0-2. The loss drops the Chiefs to 10-16 in the second half and 45-50 overall heading into the final game of the series Friday night.

Batting in the third slot in the order for the first start of his career, Javier Baez put the Chiefs on top in the top of the first inning. The first-round pick launched his team-leading ninth homer of the season over the left-center field wall on the fifth offering from Wilsen Palacios. The blast extended Baez's career-best hitting streak to 14 games and put the Chiefs on top 1-0.

The Chiefs doubled their lead in the second inning against Palacios. Dustin Geiger led off with a single and moved to second on a single by Chadd Krist. Wes Darvill laid down a sacrifice bunt and was safe at first on an error by Jason King as the Chiefs loaded the bases. Palacios got Bijan Rademacher to bounce into a 4-6-3 double play as Geiger scored for a 2-0 lead. With Krist at third, Chen flew out to end the threat.

Making his first start of the season, Yao-Lin Wang cruised through the first inning before running into trouble in the second. Aaron Westlake doubled in front of a diving Taiwan Easterling in center to start the inning and moved to third on a groundout. Jason Krizan walked to put runners on the corners and Jason King lifted a fly ball into left-center. Easterling caught up to the ball but could not make the catch as it fell for an error and a sacrifice fly. With two down Wang walked Jeff Holm to load the bases and was replaced by Joe Zeller. Chad Wright greeted Zeller with a single to center to score two runs and put the Whitecaps on top 3-2.

The Chiefs left two runners on base in the third inning as Baez doubled and Paul Hoilman walked before they pulled off a double steal with two outs. But they were left on base as Geiger bounced out to second base. Darvill tripled with one out in the fourth but was again left on base as Rademacher popped out in foul territory and Chen flew out to center.

West Michigan doubled their lead in the fifth inning, again with the help of a Chiefs error. Eugenio Suarez led off with a walk and moved to second when Zeller's pick-off throw got past Hoilman at first. Westlake capitalized with a sharp single to left as Sanchez scored ahead of the throw for a 4-2 Whitecaps lead.

The final chance of the night for the Chiefs came in the sixth inning. Hoilman singled up the middle and Warwick Saupold relieved Palacios and retired Geiger before hitting Krist. With two on, King made a great lunging play at third base and beat Hoilman to third for a force out as Darvill reached first. Saupold escaped the inning when Rademacher was called out on strikes. The Chiefs got just one more base runner against the Whitecaps bullpen as Geiger walked with two outs in the eighth but was left on.

Wang (3-3) allowed three runs, one earned, on one hit and two walks over 1 2/3 innings. Limited to 40 pitches in his first start since last August, Wang struck out two and left with the bases loaded. Zeller allowed one unearned run on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked two while allowing two inherited runs to score. Bryce Shafer struck out two and allowed one hit in a scoreless inning in his return from Boise.

Casey's General Store Player of the Game - Javier Baez (SS) - Starting in the three-slot in the lineup for the first time, Baez went 2-for-4 with a homer, double, run, RBI and stolen base. He now leads the team with nine home runs and has stolen 17 bases.

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Midwest League Stories from July 19, 2012


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