MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Win 2-1 Saturday

Published on May 12, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Peoria, IL - With a sellout crowd of 7,142 in attendance for the first Fireworks show of the season, starter PJ Francescon put on a show of his own leading the Peoria Chiefs to a dominating 2-1 win over the Burlington Bees Saturday night. Despite the win, the game saw the end of Paul Hoilman's franchise-record 24-game hit streak which began on April 14 as the first basemen went 0-for-4 against Burlington. The win puts Peoria at 15-21 on the year as they head into game two of the series Sunday afternoon at 2:00.

The Chiefs took advantage of some faulty defense in the bottom of the third. After walking his fifth batter of the game to start the frame, Burlington starter Raul Alcantara hurled an errant pickoff throw to first allowing Zeke DeVoss to scoot all the way to third. Taiwan Easterling was unable to get one past the drawn in infield but another errant throw from shortstop Sean Jamieson allowed DeVoss to cross home giving Peoria a 1-0 lead without recording a hit. After back-to-back flyouts, Easterling stole second and was brought home on a RBI single by Wes Darvill extending the Chiefs' lead to 2-0.

Francescon was electric for the Chiefs and allowed just two baserunners through the first five innings, both on walks. Aaron Shipman led off the sixth with a grounder up the middle and it appeared Marco Hernandez threw to first in time but Shipman was ruled safe with the first Bees hit of the game. Francescon immediately got a 1-4-3 double play and then struck out the side in the seventh.

Burlington was finally able to break through in the top of the eighth. Back-to-back one out singles by Douglas Landaeta and Wade Kirkland followed by a Hernandez error loaded the bases. Yao-Lin Wang replaced Francescon and surrendered a sac fly to sean Jamieson cutting the lead to 2-1. With still two men on, Wang got the next batter Chih-Fang Pan to ground out to end the inning. Wang retired the Bees in order in the ninth to preserve the victory.

Francescon (4-1) turned in a career-high 7 1/3 innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits. He walked two and struck out four in his fifth quality start of the season. Wang replaced Francescon in the eighth and went the last 1 2/3 innings without allowing a baserunner, striking out one, on his way to recording his first professional save.

Casey's General Store Player of the Game - PJ Francescon (SP) - Francescon baffled the Bees lineup not allowing a hit until the sixth inning. The right-hander hurled 7 1/3 innings, allowing no earned runs on three hits, while walking two and striking out four on his way to his fourth victory of the year.

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