MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Rally Past Kernels for Third Straight Win

Published on April 17, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Peoria, IL - The Peoria Chiefs rallied back after trailing 6-2 in the sixth inning to defeat the Cedar Rapids Kernels by the score of 7-6 Tuesday night at Peoria Chiefs Stadium. The victory extends Peoria's win streak to three games and gets the Chiefs back to .500 on the year at 6-6 as they go for the sweep Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m.

Despite loading the bases in the first, Chiefs starter PJ Francescon was yet to allow a run heading into the third inning. The right-hander set down the first two men he faced on groundouts before Kernels' cleanup hitter Gary Mitchell smacked a solo homerun onto the grass just over the CEFCU sign in left field making it 1-0.

Peoria didn't trail for long as in the bottom of the third Brad Zapenas singled to start the frame. Back in the lineup after a day off, Pin-Chieh Chen lifted a triple over the center fielder's head for an RBI triple. With the game tied at 1-1, Zeke DeVoss went down swinging but was picked up by teammate Wes Darvill who made it 2-1 with a single to right bringing home Chen.

The scoring continued in the top of the fourth as the Kernels once again turned to the long ball. Francescon set down the first two guys he saw before allowing a double to the son of LA Angels skipper Mike Scioscia, Matt Scioscia. Scioscia's two-bagger marked the end for Francescon as Bryce Shafer came in from the bullpen looking to end the inning. That was not the case though, as Shafer walked the first man he saw before allowing a three-run homerun to leadoff hitter Kevin Moesquit. The homer made it 4-2 as it slammed into the railing just over the yellow line on the CEFCU sign in left.

After a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth, the Kernels kept the momentum as they added to their lead. After a flyout by Ryan Jones, Mitchell walked and Abel Baker and Andy Workman followed that with back-to-back singles. Workman's hit plated Mitchell and made it 5-2. With two down, Scioscia poked a single past the diving glove of Zapenas at third. Oliver Zapata in only his third game as a Chief made sure to keep the deficit right where it was as he threw out Baker at home to keep the score 5-2.

Scott Weismann replaced Shafer on the mound to start the sixth. After setting down the first man he saw on strikes, Weismann allowed a single to Moesquit who proceeded to steal second. Weismann struck out Chevy Clarke before surrendering a two-out RBI single to Jones to make it 6-2 Cedar Rapids.

In the bottom half, catcher Rafael Lopez greeted new pitcher Jacob Negrete with his first triple of the year to right-center. Last night's hero Ryan Cuneo drove in Lopez with a groundout to first giving him an RBI in four straight games while cutting the lead to 6-3.

The Chiefs continued to claw back as they knocked out Negrete with a leadoff walk by Zapenas and a double by Chen to make it second and third with nobody out as the Kernels brought in 6'11' reliever Joe Melioris to try and escape. The right-hander came straight out of the pen and walked DeVoss to load the bases with still no one out for Darvill. After working the count full, Darvill walked to plate Zapenas and cut the lead to two. Lopez was unable to take advantage of the bases-loaded situation as he popped out in foul ground for the first out. Cuneo then stepped in and scorched a line-drive to center field that was hauled in allowing Chen to scamper home to make it 6-5. A pitch in the dirt to the next batter Taiwan Easterling made it first and third with two outs for the right fielder. Two pitches later, Melioris bounced another wild pitch that allowed DeVoss to score knotting the score at six.

The next inning, in the bottom of the eighth, Zapata reached on a bunt single with no one out. With Marco Hernandez batting, Zapata was balked over to second by new reliever Carmine Giardina. Hernandez went down swinging for the first out. With Zepanas batting, Giardina balked for the second time allowing Zapata to move to third. Zapenas flew out to shallow right before Chen walked to make it first and third. DeVoss hit a potential inning-ending grounder to short that went right through the legs of Wendell Soto allowing Zapata to score the go-ahead run and make it 7-6. Yao-Lin Wang walked a batter with two outs in the ninth but got a fielders' choice to end the game.

Francescon went only 3 2/3 innings allowing two runs on three hits, while walking three and striking out one. Shafer replaced Francescon in the fourth and went 1 1/3 innings, surrendering three runs on four hits, walking two and striking out one. Weismann came in to start the sixth and went two innings, allowing one run on three hits, walking none and striking out three. For the second straight night, Yao-Lin Wang (2-0) came in out of relief, this time in the eighth, hurling the final two innings, allowing no runs on no hits, walking one and striking out none while recording his second win of the young season.

Casey's General Store Player of the Game - Pin-Chieh Chen (CF) - After getting the day off Monday, Chen returned to the lineup going 2-for-3 with a double, triple, and a walk. The center-fielder also scored two runs while driving in another to go along with a solid day on defense.

Notes: Francescon's had not issued a walk in his first 11 innings this season before walking two in the first...Francescon finished with three walks tying a career-high...The two teams combined to hit six home runs in the first 12 innings of the series.Cuneo's RBI groundout in the sixth gives him a RBI in four straight games...The three-run seventh inning marked the first time the Chiefs have scored in that inning all season...Tuesday was the fifth game of the year with 10 or more hits for the Chiefs...Lopez's triple was his first of his career...Peoria's two triples was a single-game high for the season...Zapata's bunt single in the eighth gave him a career high three hits...The four run deficit was the largest the Chiefs have come back from this season...The Chiefs have won two of four series this season and are now 3-2 at homePeoria will look for the series sweep scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday with $1 hot dogs, $1 ice cream sandwiches and $1 fountain sodas...The Chiefs send RH Jose Rosario (1-1, 5.23) making his Peoria Chiefs Stadium debut to the mound to face LH Ryan Crowley (0-1, 5.00)...The broadcast can be heard, starting with the pre-game show at 6:15 p.m. on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive which also has downloads for a free app on the iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Android.

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Midwest League Stories from April 17, 2012


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