MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Fall 7-1 Thursday

Published on August 2, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Comstock Park, MI - The Peoria Chiefs managed just a ninth inning run in a 7-1 loss Thursday night against the West Michigan Whitecaps. The loss, their third straight, drops the Chiefs to 23-16 on the half and pending the Quad Cities result in South Bend could drop the team out of the top playoff spot.

For the third game in a row, West Michigan jumped on the Chiefs right from the start. With one out in the first, Gorkys Hernandez picked up his fourth extra base hit of the series, a double to center. Peoria starter Robert Hernandez recorded a strikeout before Brennan Boesch doubled to right for a 1-0 Caps lead. Ryan Strieby followed with his team leading 14th homer of the season, a two run shot for a 3-0 West Michigan advantage.

The Whitecaps then added solo runs in the third and fourth innings. Scott Sizemore led off the home third with a ground rule double. With one out, he came around to score on a single up the middle by James Skelton. Chiefs centerfielder Leon Johnson then made an unbelievable all-out diving catch on the warning track in right-center for an inning ending 8-6-3 double play. Johnson received a standing ovation from the Whitecaps crowd as he ran in to the Chiefs dugout after the play.

West Michigan made it 5-0 in the fourth when Brandon Timm singled, stole second and scored on a Chiefs error. The Caps then scored again in the fifth when Skelton again singled in Hernandez for a 6-0 lead. Trailing 7-0, the Chiefs finally scored in the ninth against reliever Zach Piccola. Brian Leclerc led off with a single and moved to second with two outs. Clark Hardman drove Leclerc home with a single into right field before Piccola retired Matt Canepa to end the game.

Hernandez takes his second straight loss allowing six runs, five earned, over five innings. The 18-year old did not issue a walk and gave up eight hits while striking out four. Matt Maradeo tossed two scoreless innings out of the Chiefs bullpen while striking out one. Michael Bartek allowed a run in the eighth on a hit, walk, wild pitch and sacrifice fly.

Gorman's Pub Player of the Game Clark Hardman (LF) - Hardman collected three of the Chiefs six hits on the night going 3-for-4 with the lone RBI. He now has three multi-hit games in a Peoria uniform and one 3-hit game.

Notes...Chiefs batters drew just six walks in the four game series and none over a 19 1/3 innings span from Tuesday in the 6th until Thursday in the 7th...Peoria was 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position Thursday and just 5-for-21 on the series...The Chiefs bullpen was the lone bright spot in the series tossing 13 1/3 innings allowing just one run and giving up a mere five hits...Peoria has lost three straight twice this half...The two teams split the season series 4-4 with both teams winning three at home...The Chiefs now head to Lansing for a four game series against the Lugnuts...Friday's game starts at 7:05 PM EST as the Chiefs send RH Jose Pina (5-8, 4.25) against Lansing's LH Nate Starner (9-8, 4.58)...The game can be heard live beginning with the pre-game show at 5:50 PM Peoria time online at www.peoriachiefs.com or on WOAM 1350.

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Midwest League Stories from August 2, 2007


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