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MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs fall short in comeback attempt

June 29, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Peoria, IL - Despite a nice comeback effort, the Peoria Chiefs could not totally erase a four-run deficit as they dropped a one-run contest to the Burlington Bees 6-5 Thursday night at O'Brien Field. The Chiefs cut what was once a four-run deficit to one, but fell short and dropped their first contest against Burlington in nine games.

With the Chiefs leading 2-1, Burlington exploded for five combined runs in the fifth and sixth innings. In inning number five, Carlos Arroyo had an RBI single to tie it at two and Jeff Howell tallied a two-run safety to put the Bees up 4-2. The Bees added two more runs in the sixth when Valentino Arce came into score on a Ryne Malone throwing error and Jose Duarte, who reached on the same miscue, was plated on a Josh Johnson single to give Burlington a 6-2 lead.

The Chiefs got ever so close in the bottom half of the sixth against reliever Eliezer Garcia. Jesus Valdez walked and Ryan Norwood poked a single through the ride side. After a Kyle Reynolds fielder's choice that forced Norwood, Yusuf Carter smacked an RBI single to right. Malone stepped to the plate and ripped a two-run double to left-center and cut the Chiefs deficit to one at 6-5. However, Peoria could not mount any other threats in the game's final three innings.

After leaving two men on in the first, the Bees got on the board in the second. Howell took a hanging breaking ball from Mitch Atkins and lifted it over the left field wall to make it a 1-0 game. Peoria got even in their half of the second. Norwood doubled to lead off the inning and moved to third on a Reynolds' flyout. After a miraculous over-the-shoulder catch by Burlington first baseman Miguel Vega to rob Carter, Malone slapped a single to center to score Norwood and knot the game at one.

The Chiefs staged a two-out rally to take a 2-1 lead. After a couple of groundouts to start the frame, Mark Reed was hit by a pitch and moved up to second on a passed ball. Valdez came through with a bouncing ball up the middle to plate Reed and give Peoria a one-run lead.

Atkins went 5 1/3 innings and allowed six runs, just two earned, on nine hits in a losing effort. Jesse Estrada fired 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief. Burlington starter Rayner Oliveros picked up the win tossing five innings giving up two runs on four hits. Gilbert De La Vara came on in the ninth to record his eighth save of the year.

Pepsi Player of the Game

Ryne Malone (2B) - The Chiefs' second baseman was 2-4 with a double and three runs driven in on the night.

Notes... Malone is now 3-3 with the Chiefs with runners in scoring position...The loss against Burlington was the Chiefs' first defeat suffered against the Bees this season. They are now 8-1 against their division foe...Attendance Thursday night was 2,346...RHP Scott Taylor (3-3, 3.57) will start on the mound for the Chiefs tomorrow going up against RHP Chris Nicoll (3-5, 2.84)...First pitch of the first game is slated for 6:30 PM and will feature a post-game concert by the Chirstian group Avalon. The pre-game show will kick-off at 6:15 on www.peoriachiefs.com.


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