MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Rally to Tie Kernels, But Fall 9-7

Published on May 2, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Cedar Rapids, IA - The Peoria Chiefs erased a five run deficit in the sixth inning but eventually lost their second straight game Saturday night falling to the Cedar Rapids Kernels 9-7. The loss drops the Chiefs to 11-10 overall and 2-2 on their current 12-game road trip. After the Chiefs ran into an out at third base in the top of the first Cedar Rapids picked up a pair of runs against Justin Bristow in the bottom of the innint. With one down Matt Crawford doubled to the wall in left and scored easily on a triple to right-center by Alexi Amarista. Gabe Jacobo made it 2-0 with a sac fly to right as Amarista scored on an off-line throw by Nelson Perez. The Kernels added to their lead in the second when Ryan Groth crushed a solo homer down the right-field line. The homer was Groth's first hit of the season in 13 at-bats. Peoria got the run bac k in the top of the third when Ryan Flaherty led off with a homer against Chris Armstrong, his second of the season.

Cedar Rapids benefitted from a Chiefs error to add to their 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third. With one out Matt Crawford reached on a two-base error by Josh Vitters at third base. Following a strikeout, Jacobo made the Chiefs pay with a RBI single to left scoring Crawford. The Kernels broke the game open against reliever Jeffrey Beliveau in the fourth. Jon Townsend drew a lead-off walk and Groth was hit in the shoulder to put two runners on with no outs. After consecutive strikeouts, Crawford tripled into the right-field corner to score both runners for a 6-1 Cedar Rapids lead. Peoria loaded the bases against Armstrong in the fifth but managed just one run. Junior Lake started with an opposite field single before Armstrong walked Luis Flores and Flaherty. Perez popped up for the first out before Lake scored on a fielders'choice off the bat of David Macias to cut the lead to 6-2. Harrison then grounded out to end the inning. Trailing 7-2 to start the sixth, the Chiefs exploded against the Kernels bullpen. Ridling led off with a double against Matt Shoemaker and moved to third on a one-out wild pitch. Vitters cut the lead to 7-3 with an infield single and moved to second on antoher wild pitch. Lake singled to put runners on the corners before Shoemaker struck out Flores. Mike Kohn relieved Shoemaker and walked Flaherty to load the bases with two down. Perez tied the game for the Chiefs with a grand slam to right field, the team's first slam of the season. Perez leads the squad with four homers and is second with 12 RBI. Kevin Kreier pitched out of trouble in the seventh when he relived Beliveau with two on and only one out. But the Kernels scored twice to beat him in the eighth. Darwin Bailey led off with a double. Darwin Perez laid down a bunt and Flores appeared to throw Bailey out at third but the runner was called safe by base umpire Adam Schwarz. With Crawford at the plate, Kreier unleashed a wild pitch putting Cedar Rapids on top 8-7. A groundout advanced Perez to third and he scored on a single by Amarista for a 9-7 Kernels lead. The Chiefs went in order in the ninth against Vladimir Veras (1-) who picked up the win. Bristow allowed four runs, three earned on four hits over three inning of work. The right-hander struck out one, walked one and allowed a home run. Beliveau allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits over 3 1/3 innings. The lefty struck out four, walked three and hit one. Kreier (2-1) took the loss after allowing two runs on two hits and striking out three in 1 2/3 innings.

Check out the Peoria Chiefs Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Midwest League Stories from May 2, 2009


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.

OurSports Central