MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Swept Out of Iowa with 4-2 Loss

Published on June 13, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Clinton, IA - The Peoria Chiefs limp home with a .500 record after a 1-7 road trip ended with a 4-2 loss and a four-game sweep against the Clinton LumberKings on Saturday night. The loss is the Chiefs seventh in a row and puts them five games out of the Wild Card race with nine games left in the half.

The Chiefs wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard against Clinton's All-Star starter Aaron Pribanic. With one down Josh Harrison reached on an infield single to shortstop. Rebel Ridling put the Chiefs on top with a double off the center field wall for his fifth RBI of the series and 14th double of the season. Josh Vitters reached on an error by Mario Martinez at third base allowing Ridling to advance to third with two outs. Ryan Flaherty surprised the Clinton defense with a bunt single as Ridling scored for a 2-0 lead before Pribanic got out of the inning.

Chiefs' starter Chris Archer walked the first two LumberKings he faced in the bottom of the first inning. A groundout by Steve Savastano advanced both runners and Terry Serrano scored on a grounder by Kris Sanchez. Archer struck out Denny Almonte to end the inning and keep the Chiefs on top 2-1.

The game stayed 2-1 into the fifth inning as Burke threw Travis Howell out at the plate to end the fourth inning. Clinton knocked Archer from the contest in the bottom of the fifth and then took the lead against reliever Ryan Buchter. Mario Martinez started the frame with a double and advanced to third on a bunt single by Maximo Mendez. After a stolen base and a groundout, Buchter relieved Archer. Luis Nunez greeted the Chiefs left-hander with a two-run double to left-center for a 3-2 LumberKings lead.

In an inning that perfectly sums up the Chiefs 1-7 road trip, they failed to tie the game in the eighth after having a runner on third with no outs. Harrison began the inning by reaching on an error by Nunez at second base. Harrison stole second and moved to third when Howell's throw bounced into center. With the infield in, Ridling grounded grounded out to shortstop. After a pitching change, Burke hit a grounder to first and Harrison was tagged out at the plate while running on contact. Clinton changed pitchers again and Vitters struck out swinging to end the threat.

Clinton scored an insurance run in the eighth against Erik Hamren. The first two LumberKings walked and Steve Moss sacrificed to first. Howell made it 4-2 with a single to right before Hamren escaped the inning with back-to-back outs to shortstop.

Archer (2-2) allowed three runs on three hits while walking three and walking four over 4 1/3 innings. The righty lost for the second time in a row after not losing in 21 straight starts from June 2008 to Monday. Buchter allowed two hits over 1 2/3 innings while striking out one. Hamren allowed one run on three walks and a single in his two innings.

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Midwest League Stories from June 13, 2009


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