Chiefs Get Big Win With Two in Ninth
August 30, 2007 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Davenport, IA- For the second night in a row, the Peoria Chiefs received nine strong innings of pitching and timely hitting to stay in the thick of a Wild Card race with a 3-1 win over Quad Cities. Thursday's win over the Swing keep the Chiefs one game behind Cedar Rapids with four to play.
The game went into the sixth inning scoreless as both starting pitchers were reduced to dugout observers. Swing reliever Jason Cairns got the first out before Darwin Barney doubled under the glove of first baseman Christian Reyes. Jim Adduci took advantage with a single up the middle as Barney scored easily for the first run of the game. After a groundout moved Adduci to second, Quad Cities intentionally walked Blake Lalli. With Russ Canzler batting, Lalli was picked off first base by catcher Nick Derba to end the frame.
Quad Cities tied the game in the bottom of the seventh against Chiefs reliever Jayson Ruhlman. Christian Lopez drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on an errant pickoff throw by Ruhlman. A sacrifice bunt moved Lopez to third with one out. Lalli made a diving catch at first base for the second out, but Jose Ramirez lined a two-strike single into rightfield to tie the game 1-1.
With the game still tied in the ninth, Peoria rallied against reliever Matt Spade. Marquez Smith singled to left with one out and moved to second on a single by Lalli. Leon Johnson ran for Lalli and Swing closer Kenny Maiques relieved Spade. Canzler greeted Maiques with a first pitch RBI single to left for a 2-1 Chiefs lead. With the runners on the move, Ty Wright singled to a diving shortstop and Johnson came around to score on the play for a 3-1 Peoria lead. A strikeout, caught stealing double play ended the inning as Derba threw out Canzler at third.
Russell, making his first appearance since starting Saturday's no-hitter, gave up three hits in four shutout innings. The lefty struck out five and walked three and all five of his strikeouts came with a runner in scoring position. Ruhlman gave up one unearned run on two hits over three innings. He struck out two and walked one in his 50th outing of the season. Maestri is now 6-0 out of the bullpen and 6-3 overall as he went the last two innings for the win. He struck out four and retired all six batters he faced on the night.
Gorman's Pub Player of the Game
Russ Canzler (LF) - Canzler delivered in the ninth with his first hit of the game and 51st RBI of the season. The game winning RBI kept the Chiefs just one game behind Cedar Rapids in the Wild Card race.
Playoff Watch: The top two teams in the division excluding Beloit and Clinton will make the playoffs. With 4 games remaining, the Chiefs are a in the Wild Card race one game behind Cedar Rapids who beat Burlington 10-3 Thursday night. Kane County is now 1 ½ behind Cedar Rapids after sweeping a double header with Beloit Thursday night. The Chiefs have three games (at home) against Cedar Rapids and one at Quad Cities. The Wild Card team will play Beloit in the first round while the Second Half Champion will play Clinton.
Notes... The Chiefs are 3-6 against the Swing this season and 1-4 in Davenport...Peoria has not allowed an earned run in 18 2/3 innings...Brian Leclerc singled to start the eighth and now has a Chiefs season long 13 game hit streak...Ruhlman is the 30th pitcher in franchise history, and first since 2004, to make 50 relief appearances in a season...Quad Cities was 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position...The two rivals play for the final time in the regular season on Friday at 7:00 PM...The Chiefs will send RHP Marco Carrillo (6-6, 4.16) to the mound against Swing RHP Tyler Herron (10-6, 3.62)...The game can be heard live beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 PM online at www.peoriachiefs.com or on WOAM 1350.
• Discuss this story on the Midwest League message board...
Midwest League Stories from August 30, 2007
- Swing Fall Behind In Ninth, Lose Another Tight One - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Saturday's Game Sold Out - Great Lakes Loons
- Whitecaps Battle Back - Great Lakes Loons
- Chiefs Get Big Win With Two in Ninth - Peoria Chiefs
- Lugnuts Walk Their Way to Extra Inning Victory - Dayton Dragons
- Napolitan chalks up fourth straight relief win for Whitecaps - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Wisconsin Edges Clinton - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Angel Guzman Not Rehabbing in Peoria - Peoria Chiefs
- Cougars Take Two from Snappers - Kane County Cougars
- Cubs Right Hander Guzman to Rehab in Peoria - Peoria Chiefs
- Hernandez, Gonzalez Flip-flop On Dl - Quad Cities River Bandits
- O'Brien, Gerbe to Make Spot Starts - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Donaldson to Pitch in Triple-A - Dayton Dragons
- Berezay Slams Loons Past South Bend - Great Lakes Loons
- Get Your Playoff Tickets Now - Beloit Sky Carp
- Kernels a step closer to playoffs with 8-4 win over Snappers - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Playoff Tickets on sale Thursday - Cedar Rapids Kernels
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
