Chiefs rally in ninth, but fall 6-4
July 13, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Peoria, IL - The Peoria Chiefs fell to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for the second straight night, this time 6-4 Thursday night at O'Brien Field. Down four heading into the ninth, The Chiefs scored twice and had the bases loaded with only one away, but failed to plate anyone else as Peoria dropped their fifth game in their last six contests.
Wisconsin scored the game's first run in the third. Robby Hudson ripped a long run home run to left off of starter Jesus Yepez to put the Timber Rattlers up 1-0.
The Timber Rattlers took advantage of some good fortune to tack on two more in the fourth. With two outs and runners on first and second, Jeff Flaig came to the plate. He hit a slow bouncer down the third base line that hit off the third base bag and went over the head of Ryne Malone at third to plate two and make it a 3-0 ballgame.
The Chiefs got two runs back in the fifth. Alberto Garcia singled with one away but was erased on a fielder's choice off the bat of Kyle Reynolds. After a Davy Gregg flyout, Robinson Chirinos reached on a infield single on a sharp ground ball to third with third baseman Ron Garth throwing low to first. Jeff Flaig couldn't scoop it at first base, and Reynolds came all the way around from first base on the play to score. Ryne Malone kept the inning alive with a line drive single to center. With Chirinos at second and Malone at first, Jesus Valdez hit a bouncing ball through the left side of the infield to score Chirinos and cut the Wisconsin lead to 3-2.
Wisconsin added some insurance in the seventh and eighth innings. The visitors had runners on the corners with nobody out and reliever Jon Mueller on the mound. Mueller looked like he was about get out of the jam by forcing a pop out and striking out Mike Saunders. But after a walk to Garth, Luis Valbuena scorched a single to right to score two. One inning later, Eddy Hernandez delivered a sacrifice fly to left and give the Timber Rattlers a 6-2 advantage.
Peoria staged a comeback in the ninth. With the bases load and one away, Jesus Valdez singled home Reynolds and a Ryan Norwood single plated Chirinos. But Mark Reed bounced into a game-ending double play and gave Wisconsin their second straight win.
Yepez went six innings and allowed three runs on six hits in a losing effort. He walked three and struck out three. Mueller came on in the seventh and eighth and was charged with three runs.
Justin Rayborn tossed a spotless ninth. Wisconsin starter Jose Escalona got his first win in his last eight decisions going 5 1/3 innings and allowing two runs on six hits.
Pepsi Player of the Game
Jesus Valdez (LF) - Valdez was a perfect 5-5 on the night while driving in two of the Chiefs' four runs.
Notes... The five hits by Valdez is a career-high for hits in a single game and the first time a Chief has had five hits in a game since Luis Montanez accomplished the feat on 5/23/05...The three runs scored on Yepez is the most the left has given up in his last five starts...Prior to this series, Wisconsin had not won back-to-back road games since May 5 & 6 and had not won a series since early June when they swept Clinton. Attendance Thursday night was 2,870... RHP Mitch Atkins (7-3, 2.72 ) will start on the mound for the Chiefs tomorrow going up against RHP Marwin Vega (3-5, 5.70)...First pitch of the first game is slated for 7:00 PM and the pre-game show will kick-off at 6:45 on www.peoriachiefs.com
Midwest League Stories from July 13, 2006
- Bees rally falls short - Burlington Bees
- LumberKings cloud up and rain on Kernels, 14-5 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Devil Rays home winning streak ends - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Wisconsin holds on for a win in Peoria - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Chiefs rally in ninth, but fall 6-4 - Peoria Chiefs
- Omura, Lansford help Cougars beat Bees - Kane County Cougars
- Swing strand ten as Beloit snaps back - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Silver Hawks rally falls short - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Dragons lead early, rally late to beat South Bend, 6-4 - Dayton Dragons
- Maybin, Whitecaps blast past Devil Rays - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Wizards bounce back against Lansing - Lansing Lugnuts
- McConnell to Idaho Falls, Pena Joins Bees - Burlington Bees
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