Chiefs Win 3-2 in 10 Saturday
Published on July 9, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Cedar Rapids, IA - The Peoria Chiefs finally got over the hump in extra innings with a 3-2 road win in 10 innings Saturday night against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. The win moves the Chiefs to 6-10 in the second half and 39-47 overall while the Kernels fall to 6-10 and 38-48 overall.
Austin Kirk and Heath Nichols matched scoreless innings through six frames. Cedar Rapids left runners on the corners in the first and left another runner at second in the second. Kirk retired eight in a row in the middle innings before a single and an error in the sixth. A base-running mistake took the Kernels out of the sixth inning. Nichols faced the minimum through 4 2/3 innings as both of the Chiefs' early hits were erased by double plays. Arismendy Alcantara doubled with one out in the sixth but Nichols retired the next two to keep it scoreless.
Peoria broke through first as Ryan Cuneo led off the seventh with a double to the right-field corner. After a flyout, Richard Jones hit his 16th homer of the season over the 403 foot sign between the flag pole and the scoreboard to the right of the center field batters' eye. The homer moved Jones into a tie for 15th on the Chiefs single season list and is his second off Nichols this season.
The Peoria lead was short lived as Cedar Rapids started a rally with a Brandon Decker double in the bottom of the inning. With one out Jean Almanzar singled to make it 2-1 and after Marcus Nidiffer walked, Yohan Gonzalez relieved Kirk. After a groundout, Rolando Gomez hit a chopper to third but Brandon May overthrew first and Almanzar came around to score the tying run. Chris Giovanazzo tried to score all the way from first on the play but Jones tracked down the ball and threw a strike to Micah Gibbs at the plate to end the inning.
After Gonzalez pitched the Chiefs to extra innings, Gibbs led off the 10th with a single and moved to second on a passed ball with one out. Alcantara grounded out and moved Gibbs to third. Rubi Silva hit a chopper to short and beat the throw to first as Gibbs scored for a 3-2 Chiefs lead against Daniel Tillman. Gonzalez retired the Kernels in order in the 10th to preserve the win.
Kirk threw 6 1/3 innings and allowed two runs, one earned on seven hits. He walked one, the final batter he faced, and struck out give. Gonzalez (3-3) picked up his second win after a blown save this week. He allowed an inherited runner to score but none of his own over 2 2/3 innings while giving up one hit and striking out four.
Casey's General Store Player of the Game - Austin Kirk (LHP) - Kirk kept the Kernels off-balance all night long and picked up his eighth quality start of the season with 6 1/3 innings and one earned run allowed. He struck out five and lowered his ERA to 2.53.
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