Chiefs Take Series With 6-3 Win Over Lugnuts
Published on July 18, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Peoria, IL - The Peoria Chiefs scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take the final game of a three-game series 6-3 with the visiting Lansing Lugnuts on Friday night at O'Brien Field. The Chiefs improve to 19-9 in the second half and 49-47 overall this season and remain in first place in the Western Division. With both starting pitchers putting up zeros for the first three and a half innings, the Chiefs broke through in the fourth. Jonathan Wyatt lined a one-out single into center field off Lugnuts starter Brian Letko. Jovan Rosa followed with a double into the left field corner to score Wyatt from first and put the Chiefs on top 1-0. Peoria got back on the board in the fifth inning against Letko. Elvis Lara doubled up against the right field wall to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt by Cliff Andersen moved him 90 feet closer to scoring. Luis Flores reached on a fielders choice, and Lara scored by sliding underneath the tag of the catcher to extend the Chiefs lead to 2-0. Lansing tied the game in the seventh inning against the Chiefs bullpen. Jordan Latham gave up back-to-back singles to Kevin Ahrens and Moises Sierra to start the inning. A ground out by Yohermyn Chavez scored Ahrens to make it 2-1 in favor of the Chiefs. Raul Barron reached on a fielding error by Jake Opitz that allowed Darin Mastroianni to score and tie the game 2-2. The Chiefs wasted little time getting their lead back in the bottom of the seventh inning against Lansing reliever Joe Wice. Lara started the inning by reaching on a bunt single up the first base line. Opitz picked up the second infield hit of the inning on a ball hit to deep short. With two outs, Samson lined a single into left field to score Lara to give the Chiefs the lead back at 3-2. After Wyatt walked to load the bases with two outs, Rosa doubled off the center field wall against Lugnuts reliever Edgar Estranga to clear the bases and extend the Chiefs lead to 6-2. Lansing got a run closer in the eighth inning against Peoria reliever Jon Mueller. David Cooper hit a solo home run to right-center field on the first pitch of the inning to cut the Chiefs lead to 6-3. Mueller rebounded to retire the next three batters in order to get out of the inning without any further damage. Despite pitching a season-high six scoreless innings, Julio Castillo did not factor in the decision. The 20-year old right-hander scattered five hits while striking out two and walking one. Jordan Latham picked up the win but allowed two runs, one of which was earned, on three hits in his lone inning of work. Mueller worked one inning and allowed a solo home run and struck out one. Steve Vento worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning to pick up his team-leading 12th save of the year.
Player of the Game - Jovan Rosa (3B) - Rosa's three-run double in the seventh inning opened up the game for the Chiefs. Rosa finished the evening 2-for-4 with four runs driven in to add onto his team high 55 RBI.
Notes... The Chiefs picked up three more doubles and lead the MWL in doubles with 191...Rosa leads the MWL in doubles with 30...Wyatt has hit safely in a personal season-best nine games...During the streak, he is hitting 10-for-32 (.313)...Rosa hit third in the order for the first time this season...Peoria is 14-13 when a left-handed pitcher starts against them...Samson is 6-for-9 leading off games at home...The Chiefs have blown 12 saves this season and are 5-5 in games when they blow a save and 3-0 at home...Luis Bautista had his career-best 10-game hitting streak come to an end with an 0-4 night...Peoria continues a stretch of 12-games against the Eastern Division when Great Lakes comes to town on Saturday evening at 6:30 PM...Following the game will be the annual Diamond Dig presented by WCCD 107.9 FM...A diamond provided by Kohl's Diamond Gallery will be buried on the field and 50 pre-qualified contestants will be given clues as they search for the diamond buried on the field...Also following the game will be another spectacular fireworks show presented by Brewers Distributing and Budweiser...There will also be another Pitch-In for Charity presented by Little Caesar's Pizza and Aquatech Pool and Spas...Fans can purchase tennis balls for $1 during the game with the proceeds benefitting the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois...The Chiefs will send RH Robert Hernandez (1-1, 4.99) to the mound while Great Lakes counters with LH Thomas Melgarejo (1-4, 3.74)...The game can be heard live beginning with the pre-game show at 6:15 PM online at www.peoriachiefs.com on WOAM 1350 AM.
Midwest League Stories from July 18, 2008
- Bees Finish Nine-Game Road Trip with a Win - Burlington Bees
- Whitecaps Avoid Sweep - Beloit Sky Carp
- Dragons sweep Kernels in DH, 4-3 and 8-1 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Bandits blow late lead in loss - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Cougars Beat Loons by a Touchdown - Great Lakes Loons
- Cougars Win Marathon Slugfest - Kane County Cougars
- Penny Layne tops Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Dragons Complete Doubleheader Sweep - Dayton Dragons
- Whitecaps win crazy game - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Kings Tie, Lose Late as Wizards Take Series - Clinton LumberKings
- Chiefs Take Series With 6-3 Win Over Lugnuts - Peoria Chiefs
- Big Chiefs seventh dooms Lansing - Lansing Lugnuts
- Dragons Win Game One of Doubleheader, 4-3 - Dayton Dragons
- Ft. Wayne Wizards to Celebrate Christmas In July - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Dragons Activate Waring; Parker to Sarasota - Dayton Dragons
- Chiefs Fall to Lansing 8-7 - Peoria Chiefs
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.
