MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Fall to Wisconsin Sunday, Series Even

May 26, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Peoria, IL- Despite a three-run seventh inning and a strong late push, the Peoria Chiefs couldn't overcome a six-run deficit against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Sunday night. The Chiefs dropped to 24-23 before the rubber game of their three-game series with the Timber Rattlers on Monday.

Chiefs starter Joe Cuda pitched two perfect innings to begin the game, and wiggled out of a jam in the third. With runners on first and third with nobody out, Cuda fanned Jose Sermo, threw out Tyrone Taylor on a sacrifice bunt and got Michael Reed to ground out to short to end the frame.

Wisconsin broke through against Cuda in the fourth inning. Max Walla walked to lead off the stanza, moved to second on an Adam Giacalone single and Alfredo Rodriguez loaded the bases with a single. A fielders' choice by Orlando Arcia plated Walla for a 1-0 Rattlers lead.

The Timber Rattlers added to their lead with two more runs in the sixth inning. Walla once again opened the frame with a walk. This time he stole second and scampered to third when Adam Ehrlich's throw ended up in centerfield. After Giacalone struck out, Rodriguez homered to left field to score Walla and extend Wisconsin's lead to 3-0. After two more runners reached, Cuda escaped the inning by ringing up Sermo and recording his career-high 11th strike out.

Wisconsin broke the game open with three runs in the seventh inning against Sam Tuivailala. Taylor and Reed reached on succeeding singles to open the frame, and Walla drove both of them in with a triple to right field. Roache singled up the middle to score Walla, extending the Timber Rattlers lead to 6-0.

With Magnifico out of the game, the Chiefs took advantage of new pitcher Leonard Lorenzo in the seventh inning. Michael Swinson reached with a one-out walk, and Carson Kelly moved him to second with a single to center. After Nick Martini flew out to center, Ehrlich drove in Swinson with a base-knock to left and Breyvic Valera singled to load the bases. Ildemara Vargas singled to right to bring in Kelly and Mejia slicing Wisconsin's lead to 6-3. But Lorenzo escaped the inning with a three-run lead as Alex Mejia bounced out to shortstop.

Cuda (2-3) gave up three runs on six hits while striking a career-high 11 batters and issuing two walks in the loss. Tuivailala allowed three runs on four hits with one strikeout in his one innings of work. Chris Thomas pitched two scoreless innings and struck out two while allowing one hit.

Notes: Cuda set a new career high with 11 strikeouts, two more than he struck out May 15 at Kane CountyThe last Chiefs player to fan more than 10 was Starling Peralta who struck out 14 on August 8, 2012 against Clinton Ehrlich recorded his first hit with the Chiefs in the seventh inning... Vargas recorded his fifth multi-RBI game this year Vargas also notched his ninth multi-hit gameThe Chiefs have now been two games over .500 three times this season but have not been three games over .500 since June 12, 2011 at 33-30Peoria is now 15-9 at home and 16-15 in night games Peoria is 10-16 when their opponents score firstSunday was Chiefs manager Dann Bilardello's 54th birthday and also the 23rd birthday of Wisconsin home run hitter Alfredo RodriguezThe Chiefs have not been shutout at home all seasonThe Chiefs play the final game of their three-game series against Wisconsin on Monday at 1:00 p.m. as part of Memorial Day Monday is Markdown Mania Monday with half price tickets as Club Box Seats are $5.00 and Lawn Seats are $3.50 As part of Military Appreciation Week past and active members of the Military with an ID will receive a free ticket The Chiefs will start LH Hector Hernandez (2-1, 4.31) against Wisconsin RH Austin Blaski (2-1, 1.95)The broadcast can be heard, starting with the pre-game show at 12:40 p.m. on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive which also has downloads for a free app on the iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Android.

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