MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Lose, 11-6

Published on August 25, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Clinton, IA -The Peoria Chiefs have been officially eliminated from the 2008 Midwest League playoff race after losing to the Clinton LumberKings 11-6 on Monday night. With wild card leader Cedar Rapids winning at Wisconsin, the Chiefs are now eight games back with seven left to play. In the Monday loss, Jovan Rosa doubled three times to establish a new Chiefs single-season record with 40 doubles. The Chiefs left runners at second and third base in the top of the first and Clinton took advantage in their first at-bat against Audy Santana. Engel Beltre doubled to left-center and moved to third on a bunt single by Matt Lawson. Tim Smith struck out swinging before Mitch Moreland put the L-Kings on top 1-0 with a sac fly to left for his league-leading 94th RBI. Justin Smoak followed with a single, and Lawson scored on a single to center by Jonathan Greene as Clinton went on top 2-0. Peoria responded with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second against Michael Kirkman. After two quick outs, Elvis Lara reached on an error by Greene at third base. Luis Flores singled Lara home from second to get the Chiefs on the board. Flores moved to second on a wild pitch and easily scored on a single to left by Josh Harrison to tie the game. Thanks to a misplay by the Chiefs in left-field, the game didn't stay tied long. With two down in the bottom of the second, Beltre hit a harmless flare into left. But Rebel Ridling fell down on his first step and the ball fell in for a single. Santana lost his control and walked Lawson on four pitches to put two runners on base. Smith fouled off five straight pitches and then hit a 3-run homer to right on the 11th pitch of the at-bat for a 5-2 Clinton lead. Peoria picked up two more unearned runs and tied the game in the top of the third. Rosa led off with his 38th double of the season to tie the Chiefs single-season record. One out later, Luis Bautista walked and Ridling reached on an infield single to load the bases. Two runs scored to cut the deficit to 5-4 as Lawson committed a throwing error on a grounder by Dylan Johnston. Lara tied the game with a sac fly before Flores flew out to right to end the inning. Santana couldn't get out of the third inning and then the Chiefs defense made another crucial mistake. Justin Smoak drew a lead off walk and after an out, Santana walked Miguel Alfonzo. John Muller came out of the Chief pen and quickly got the second out on an infield pop-up. Stoneburner lifted a fly ball into shallow right-center that Guyer dropped for a two-base error as both Smoak and Alfonzo scored for a 7-5 Clinton lead. The Chiefs left two on base in the fourth and then threw out two L-Kings at the plate in the sixth inning. Peoria got one run closer in the seventh thanks to another Clinton error. Rosa set a new Chiefs doubles record with his 39th of the season to start the inning. Guyer reached on an infield single and Rosa scored when the throw to first went into the Chiefs dugout. Guyer was caught stealing third base and reliever Ryan Turner escaped the inning with the Chiefs trailing 7-6. Clinton put the game away against reliever Jon Mueller in the seventh. Smith led off with a line-drive homer into the Lumber Lounge in right for an 8-6 lead. Moreland reached on an infield single and was forced at second for Greene. With two down, Alfonzo tripled to center and scored on an infield single by Dominguez for a 10-6 Clinton lead. The L-Kings added another run against Mueller in the eighth when Smoak drove home Lawson with a sac fly to center. Santana had his shortest outing of the season as a starter and allowed seven runs, five earned in just 2 1/3 innings. The right-hander allowed six hits and three walks while surrendering a home run and striking out two. Muller threw 3 2/3 shutout innings and allowed three hits while striking out three. Mueller gave up four runs on six hits in just two innings while striking out two.

Player of the Game - Jovan Rosa (3B) - The Chiefs third baseman collected three doubles in four at-bats while also walking and scoring twice. Rosa is the first Chiefs player to ever collect 40 doubles in a season as he breaks David Kim's 10-year-old record of 38 doubles in 1998. He leads the MWL in doubles and is also top five with 49 extra base hits and 78 RBI.

Check out the Peoria Chiefs Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from August 25, 2008


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