Chiefs Start Out Hot, Hold Off D-Rays
Published on June 2, 2005 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Battle Creek, MIâ The Peoria Chiefs scored three time in the top of the first inning and held on for a hard-fought 3-1 win over the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays Wednesday night at C.O.Brown Stadium. With the win the Chiefs stop a two game slide and move to 26-27 on the season, four games within first place.
Eric Patterson led off the game with an opposite field single and Aaron Sisk followed with a swinging bunt base hit off Devil Rays hurler Jared Lavergne. Ryan Harvey drew a walk to load the bases and Lavergne walked Luis Montanez to force in the game's first run. Josh Arteaga gave the Chiefs a 2-0 lead with a sacrifice fly to deep center scoring Sisk. Drew Larsen followed with a sharp single up the middle to score Harvey before a double play ended the inning.
Southwest Michigan came battling back in the bottom of the 1st against Chiefs ace Sean Gallagher. Fernando Perez led off with an infield single, stole second and went to third on a deep flyout to center. Josh Asanovich got the home team on the board with a basehit cutting the Chiefs lead to 3-1.
The Chiefs didn't really threaten again until late in the game as Lavergne settled down and at one point retired 11 in a row. Peoria got two on in the 9th against reliever Matt Larson but didn't push another run across.
The Devil Rays however had the tying run either on base or at the plate in every inning except one. Gallagher pitched out of trouble three times before leaving with two runners on and one out in the 6th. Jon Hunton came on and struck out both batters he faced to end the inning. Hunton also got through the 7th before giving way to left-hander Tim Layden for the 8th. Closer Jerry Blevins gave up a leadoff hit in the 9th before retiring three straight for the save.
Gallagher (6-1) earned the win with 5 1/3 innings in which he allowed six hits and one run. The right-hander struck out four and walked a season high four while his ERA moved to a MWL best 0.83.
Pepsi Players of the Game
Jon Hunton, Tim Layden and Jerry Blevins (RP)- The Chiefs bullpen recorded 4 2/3 innings of shutout ball and pitched out of three jams. Hunton struck out two in the 6th after inheriting a pair of runner and Layden pitched around an error in the 8th. Blevins earned the save, his 10th of the year while striking out one.
Notes... Patterson and Sisk both collected hits one day after their lengthy hit streaks came to an end...Gallagher leads the MWL in strikeouts with 72...Montanez leads the team with 26 RBI...The two teams play game three of the four game series Thursday night at 7:05 EST...The Chiefs will have RH Jesse Estrada on the mound against LH Jino Gonzalez...The game can be heard on 1350 WOAM and www.peoriachiefs.com.
Midwest League Stories from June 2, 2005
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- Southwest Michigan drops second straight to Chiefs - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Swing break out bats for win - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Rattlers bite back with 6-2 win - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Rattlers end brief slide - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Down seven? No problem! Whitecaps use nine-run inning to top Kane County - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Cougars Can't Hold Big Lead Against âCaps - Kane County Cougars
- L-Kings Fall To Lugnuts - Clinton LumberKings
- Former Whitecaps Pitcher Joins Wizards - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Chiefs Return Home for Great Weekend - Peoria Chiefs
- Chiefs Start Out Hot, Hold Off D-Rays - Peoria Chiefs
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