Chiefs finally solve Cougars
August 4, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Fuld, Bernard homer as Gallagher picks up 12th win Geneva, IL - The Peoria Chiefs held off a furious rally from the Kane County Cougars for a 7-3 win Thursday night at Elfstrom Stadium. The win snapped a eight game losing streak against the Chiefs only in-state rival in 2005 and improved Peoria's record to 19-22 on the half and 54-57 on the season.
Leading 7-3 starting the bottom of the 9th, the Chiefs faced another Cougars rally but responded to shut down the home team's late attack. Walt Nolen started the inning and issued two walks with a single sandwiched between to load the bases with no outs. Adalberto Mendez relieved Nolen and got pinch hitter Raul Padron to pop up before a wild pitch made it 7-4. Mendez then walked Ryan Ruiz to re-load the bases and bring the winning run to the plate. But Mendez induced a grounder from Gregorio Petit that the Chiefs infield turned into a game ending 6-4-3 double play.
The Chiefs scored first in the 3rd inning against Cougars starter Mike Rogers (5-7). Sam Fuld led off with a solo homer to right, his third of the season. Two batters later, Ryan Harvey reached on an infield single and scored on a double by Jesse Schmidt for a 2-0 Chiefs lead. After an out, Anthony Granato singled to left to score Schmidt for a 3-0 lead.
Kane County came back against Sean Gallagher to score two unearned runs. After Oscar Bernard dropped a pop foul, Daivd Castillo walked and Ruiz was hit by a pitch. A double play was followed by another walk before Luis Perez doubled home a pair to get Kane County on the board. Ruiz homered an inning later to tie the game 3-3.
With the game tied 3-3 in the 6th, Bernard ended Rogers night early with a solo homer that just cleared the right field wall. The blast was the catchers second of the season and second in the Chiefs last six games.
In the 7th inning, Peoria added two more against Cougars reliever JR Pickens. Fuld led off with a walk and Eric Patterson rifled a standup triple to the wall in right center for a 5-3 lead. Two batters later, Patterson scored on a fielders choice off the bat of Bo Flowers. An inning later, Bernard and Fuld each doubled as the lead grew to 7-3.
Gallagher (12-4) tossed six innings in which he allowed three hits and three runs, only one earned. The Chiefs ace walked four and struck out two while lowering his league leading ERA to 2.24. The righty is now tied for the MWL lead in wins as well. Nolen allowed just one run on one hit and three walks in two innings of relief while Mendez picked up his third save with one hitless inning. Pepsi Players of the Game
Sam Fuld (CF) - Fuld homered in his second at-bat and doubled in a run in his final at-bat to help the Chiefs to a 7-4 win. The centerfielder also walked and scored and made a great running catch in left-center early in the game. He finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a home run, a double and two RBI. Notes... Harvey has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games...Gallagher is top five in the MWL in ERA (2.24), wins (12), innings (124.2) and strikeouts (115)...Kane County bounced into four double plays and lined into a 5th...The Chiefs hadn't defeated the Cougars since May 6th...All three of Fuld's homers have come on the road...The two teams play at 6:30 Friday, the last of 16 match-ups in 2005....RH Mike Billek will start for the Chiefs against RH Tony Evans...The game can be heard on 1350 WOAM and www.peoriachiefs.com.
Midwest League Stories from August 4, 2005
- Chiefs finally solve Cougars - Peoria Chiefs
- Hawks outlast Rattlers in a marathon - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Beloit Snaps Two Game Losing Streak - Beloit Sky Carp
- Swing hold on to late lead - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Offense cools in loss - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Piping hot Piepkorn pummels pitches in 10-5 win - Dayton Dragons
- Rays offense comes alive in 10-2 victory - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Devil Rays Club House Store to host players, deals on Saturday - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Summer of Injuries Continues - Dayton Dragons
- Beach Bums, Burgers, Beer, Birthday Bash and Bow-wows - Kane County Cougars
- L-Kings Take Down The Swing - Clinton LumberKings
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