MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Fall 5-3 Wednesday Night

Published on May 28, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Peoria, IL - The Peoria Chiefs dropped the first game of a four-game series with the visiting Cedar Rapids Kernels 5-3 on Wednesday night. The loss drops the Chiefs to 20-32 on the season and 3-2 on the current eight-game homestand.

Cedar Rapids jumped out to a first inning lead against the Chiefs and starter Zach Ashwood. Clay Fuller reached on a broken-bat infield single to start the game and stole second on a failed pickoff attempt. A ground out by Hector Estrella moved Fuller to third, and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Efren Navarro scored Fuller to make it 1-0.

The Kernels added to their lead in the second inning against Ashwood. Jeremy Moore doubled down the right field line and moved to third on a fly out by Julio Perez. Andrew Romine singled back up the middle to score Moore and extend the lead to 2-0. After a single by Anel De Los Santos put runners at the corners, Tyler Johnson brought Romine into score with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.

The Chiefs finally broke through against Kernels starter Robert Fish in the third inning. Josh Donaldson doubled on a 3-2 pitch to the gap in right center to start the inning. After back-to-back strikeouts by Fish, Lara lined the ball into the left field corner to score Donaldson and cut the Chiefs deficit to 3-1.

Peoria got back on the board against Fish in the fourth inning. Brandon Guyer drew a leadoff walk and went from first to third on a single through the middle by Marquez Smith. Luis Bautista brought Guyer in from third with a sacrifice fly to left to bring the Chiefs to within a run at 3-2. Donaldson drew a walk to move the tying run into scoring position, but Fish struck out Johnston to end the threat.

After the Chiefs left two on in the fifth, the Kernels regained a three-run lead in the sixth. Romine led off with a single against Chiefs reliever Craig Muschko. With one out, Tyler Johnson hit his third homer of the season to put the visitors up 5-2.

The Chiefs got one run back in their half of the sixth against Kernels reliever Eddie McKiernan when Smith led off with a solo shot into the left-field berm. The homer, Smith's fifth of the season, gave the Chiefs at least one home run in five of their last six games.

Guyer doubled to start the eighth inning against Brian Chambers, and Jovan Rosa followed with a base hit to put the tying runs on base with no outs. Smith popped out to second, and Bautista grounded into an inning ending 6-4-3 double play to erase the threat. The Chiefs went in order against Kernels closer Ryan Brasier with pinch hitter Cliff Andersen making the final out.

Ashwood left the game after four innings of work allowing three runs on seven hits. The left-hander struck out three and did not walk a batter while striking out three. Muschko allowed two runs on five hits over three innings of relief work. Blake Parker tossed a pair of scoreless innings and did not allow a hit. He walked a batter and struck out three on the night. Player of the Game - Marquez Smith (3B) - Smith finished the game 3-for-4 and drove in his 22 run of the season with a solo home run in the seventh. Smith's 22 RBI tie him with Dylan Johnston for the team lead while his five home runs rank second.

Notes...The opposition has now scored first in each of the last five games with the Chiefs going 3-2 over that stretch...Johnston went 0-for-4 and ended his eight-game hitting streak, his second in May...Johnston hit safely in 16 of his last 18...Smith now has an eight game hit streak...Chiefs catcher Josh Donaldson and Manager Ryne Sandberg were ejected by home plate umpire Tony Gutierrez in the top of the seventh...Donaldson was ejected from his catching position after a called ball when he argued the drastically inconsistent strike zone of Gutierrez...Sandberg was tossed moments later, his second home ejection and fourth overall on the season...Peoria has now allowed a MWL-high 44 home runs in 52 games...The four-game series continues Thursday at 6:30 PM...Thursday's game will feature the first post-game concert of the season as Mike & Joe will perform a 90-minute concert from home plate immediately following the game...The Chiefs will start LH Chris Siegfried (1-3, 5.50) to the mound against Cedar Rapids RH Jordan Walden (2-4,2.56)...The game can be heard live beginning with the pre-game show at 6:15 PM online at www.peoriachiefs.com or on WOAM 1350 AM.

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Midwest League Stories from May 28, 2008


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