MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Rebound For 3-2 Sunday Win

Published on April 6, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Burlington, IA - The Peoria Chiefs ended a four-game road trip with a well-played 3-2 win over the Burlington Bees Sunday afternoon to split a four game season-opening series. The Chiefs now return home for the 2008 Home Opener on Monday night against the Beloit Snappers at 6:30.

For the first time this season, the Chiefs were able to score against an opponents starting pitcher. With one out in the first inning, Marquez Smith singled to left and advanced to second on a ground out. Blake Lalli then connected for his first home run of the season, a two-run blast to right field off Alex Caldera for a 2-0 Chiefs lead.

The Chiefs added to their lead thanks to a Burlington error in the fifth inning. Cliff Andersen and Nate Samson begin the inning with back-to-back singles and each advanced 90 feet on a throwing error by Bees catcher Ryan Eigsti. With no outs, Marwin Gonzalez drove Andersen home with a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 Chiefs lead.

Burlington got in the board in the home half of the fifth against Chiefs starter Alberto Cabrera. Bees first baseman Clint Robinson led off the inning with a solo home run to right-center to cut the Chiefs lead to 3-1. Ryan Eigsti followed with a single and Cabrera walked Adrian Ortiz before getting out of the jam.

Robinson pulled the Bees within one run with a solo home run to left, his second of the game. The home run, off reliever Craig Muschko, cut the lead to 3-2 before Muschko retired the next two batters to end the game.

Cabrera allowed just one run on four hits over five innings of work. He walked two and struck out one. Jordan Latham retired all six batters he faced with two strikeouts in two innings of work. Muschko allowed one run on two hits with a strikeout over two innings of work for his second career save, and first of the year.

Player of the Game - Blake Lalli (1B) - Lalli got the Chiefs off to a great start with a first inning two-run home run. In the sixth he singled and was left at third and he again singled to lead-off the eighth. Lalli finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.

Notes... Marwin Gonzalez was kept off the basepaths to start a game for the first time all season...With Mercedes getting the nod behind the plate, the only position player yet to start in 2008 is Jonathan Mota who is out with an banged up elbow...Mota did enter Sunday's game as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning and had a plate appearance in the ninth, flying out to center...Lalli has back-to-back multi-hit games...The Chiefs have four home runs through four games, they didn't hit their fourth homer last season until April 15th in their 10th game...Cabrera became the Chiefs third teenager to start a game on the mound this season...The team to score first has won each of the first three games...The Chiefs return home for the 2008 home opener Monday at 6:30 pm against the Beloit Snappers...Peoria will send their final starter LH Zach Ashwood (0-0, 0.00) to the mound against Beloit's RH Brian Kirwan (0-0, 0.00)...Monday is a Sprint Money Monday at O'Brien Field with all tickets Half-Price and the first 1500 fans receive 2008 Peoria Chiefs Magnet Schedules...The pregame show begins on 1350 WOAM and www.peoriachiefs.com at 6:15 pm.

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Midwest League Stories from April 6, 2008


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