MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Hang On to Snap Losing Streak in Burlington

Published on June 24, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Burlington, IA - The Peoria Chiefs used some timely hitting and a dominant performance from ace Dae-Eun Rhee to snap a five-game losing streak with a 5-4 win over the Burlington Bees on Tuesday night. The win moves the Chiefs to 1-5 on the second half and 31-43 overall. While the Chiefs left runners in scoring position in each of the first two innings, Burlington took advantage of their first opportunity in the second inning. With one out, David Lough singled to center and moved to second on a wild pitch as Rhee struck out Kyle Martin. Nick Van Stratten followed with a single to left and Lough scored as Brandon Guyer's throw bounced into the plate. The Chiefs wasted little time in tying the game against Bees hurler Alex Caldera. Gian Guzman led off the Chiefs third with a triple to right-center. After a groundout, Elvis Lara drove Guzman home with a sacrifice fly into foul territory down the right-field line. After Rhee retired the Bees in order in the third, Peoria took their first lead of the series in the top of the fourth. After a line-drive double play, Josh Donaldson ripped a double into the left-field corner. Guyer delivered a much needed hit with a runner in scoring position and his single up the middle easily plated Donaldson for a 2-1 Chiefs lead. Peoria extended their lead in the fifth inning against Caldera. Guzman led off with a walk and moved to second on a single by Jonathan Wyatt. Lara attempted to lay down a sac bunt, but Caldera threw late to third and Lara reached to load the bases. Guzman scored on a fielders choice off the bat of Marquez Smith and a single by Jovan Rosa gave the Chiefs a 4-1 lead. Caldera got Cliff Andersen to bounce into a double play to end the inning without any further damage done. Burlington rallied against the Chiefs bullpen in the seventh. Mike Moustakas greeted reliever Jordan Latham with a double to center and Jason Taylor drew a walk. Latham got a groundball off the bat of David Lough, but Guzman bobbled the ball allowing Burlington to load the bases with no outs. Kyle Martin's single to center cut the Chiefs lead to 4-2, and Blake Parker relieved Latham with the bases still loaded. A RBI groundout by Van Stratten cut the lead to 4-3 before a unique double play ended the threat. Juan Rivera bounced back to Parker and the Chiefs hurler threw behind Lough who had broken for the plate. Lough was tagged out by Donaldson on his way back to third and then Donaldson fired to second to get Rivera for a 1-5-2-4 double play. The Chiefs added a much needed insurance run in the eighth against Zach Peterson. Donaldson reached on a one-out single and scored easily on a long double to center by Guyer. The 5-3 was needed as Bradley product Ryan Eigsti led off the Bees eighth with a towering solo home run to left. Rhee was outstanding for the Chiefs, limiting Burlington to two hits and one run over six innings. He tied a career-high with seven strikeouts and walked just one. Jordan Latham didn't record an out and was charged with two runs on two hits and a walk. Blake Parker picked up a hold while getting out of a bases loaded jam. He surrendered one run on one hit, a walk and two strikeouts over two innings. Steve Vento nailed down his eighth save by allowing just a hit and striking out one in the ninth.

Player of the Game - Dae-Eun Rhee (SP) - Rhee tied career-best marks in innings pitched and strikeouts as he retired the Bees in order four times. The South Korean native has allowed just one earned run in 20 innings since returning from the DL in late May.

Notes...Parker allowed his first run since May 20, a span of 19 innings, a Chiefs season-high...The Chiefs had not scored more than three runs in a win since June 8...Rhee limited the Bees to just two hits over five innings in his first professional start and win on April 4 at Community Field...Lara laid down two sacrifice bunts and also delivered a sacrifice fly in his first three plate appearances...Donaldson has back-to-back multi-hit games for the third time this season and the first time since May 11...Rhee also struck out seven against Beloit on May 9...The Chiefs lost a season-worst seven straight games May 14-19...Because of a breakdown in Peoria and again outside Farmington, the Chiefs used three different busses on a four-hour commuting journey, arriving at the stadium at 5:45 pm and missing batting and infield practice...The four-game series continues Wednesday at 7:00 PM...Peoria will send RH Hung-Wen Chen (1-4, 3.31) to the mound against RH Joe Augustine (1-0, 2.10) for the Bees. The game can be heard live beginning with pre-game show at 6:45 PM online at www.peoriachiefs.com or on WOAM 1350 AM.

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