MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Win 6-2 Friday Night

Published on August 5, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Peoria, IL - Taiwan Easterling's first four-hit game in the Midwest League and Austin Kirk's strong outing on the mound propelled the Peoria Chiefs to a 6-2 win against the Burlington Bees Friday evening. Peoria won the series three games to one to improve to 15-25 in the second half and 48-62 overall this season.

Both teams came out swinging as Burlington's Beau Taylor began the game with a single to left field off of Kirk. With one out, Josh Whitaker doubled to deep center field scoring Taylor and giving Burlington the early 1-0 lead. However, two base-running miscues between second and third base by the Bees' ended their inning.

The Chiefs tied the game up quickly. Taiwan Easterling hit a single to left field to begin in the bottom of the first against Burlington's starter Blake Hassebrock. Easterling showed off his speed by stealing second and third. After Anthony Giansanti walked with one out to put runners on the corner, Richard Jones hit a sacrifice fly into center field to score Easterling and tie the game at one apiece.

Following each team scoring in the first inning, the pitchers settled down and each tossed four scoreless innings. Peoria had a strong opportunity in the second inning. With two outs, Jesus Morelli hit an infield single, Ben Klafczynski walked, and Easterling hit an infield single to the shortstop to load the bases. Despite that, Burlington got out of the jam after Rubi Silva lined out.

The Bees' also had a runner in scoring position with two outs in the top of the third, John Nester hit a triple off of the left-center wall and Josh Whitaker walked to put runners on the corners. Kirk ended Burlington's chance to score when Tony Thompson lined out.

In the bottom of the fifth, Burlington caught a lucky break. Klafczynski began the inning with a single before a pair of fielder's choices left Silva at first with two down. Giansanti moved Silva to second on a single to left field before the runners advanced up a base on a wild pitch by Hassebrock. The Bees' got out of the inning unscathed when Jones smashed a line drive that bounced off of Hassebrock's leg into the glove of Burlington's first basemen A.J. Kirby-Jones.

In the bottom of the seventh, Peoria broke the stalemate. Easterling hit a one out single into center field and Silva smashed a hit-and-run right over the second basemen to put runners on the corners. After Giansanti popped out to shallow left field, Richard Jones was intentionally walked to load the bases. With two outs, Rafael Valdes drilled a single to left field to score Easterling and Silva, giving the Chiefs a 3-1 lead.

The Bees cut Peoria's lead in half in the top of the eighth. Ryan Pineda drew a one out walk before Taylor singled to left field to move Pineda to second. After Daniel Berlind replaced Alvaro Sosa, Nester reached on a fielding error at second base. With the bases loaded, Whitaker grounded into a force out to third that scored Pineda for a 3-2 game. Berlind escaped the inning when Arismendy Alcantara made a great play at third to keep the Chiefs' one-run lead.

Peoria added three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to secure the win. Drew Tyson replaced Zach Thornton on the mound, and Alcantara began the inning with an infield single. Alcantara advanced to second on Sergio Burruel's sacrifice bunt and then to third when Jesus Morelli reached on a throwing error. With one out, Klafczynski singled to left field to score Alcantara for a two-run Chiefs lead. Morelli and Klafczynski scored when Easterling smashed a double to deep left field and increasing the Chiefs' lead to 6-2.

Kirk struck out two in six innings while only giving up four hits, one earned run, and one walk. Sosa (4-1) struck out one in one and 1/3 innings. Sosa also gave up one hit, one unearned run, and one walk. Berlind earned the save after striking out two in 1 2/3 shutout innings.

Casey's General Store Player of the Game - Taiwan Easterling (CF) & Arismendy Alcantara (3B) - Easterling led the Chiefs in the box score, going 4-for-5 with two runs scored, two steals, a double and two RBI. Alcantara led the Chiefs defensively with three spectacular plays at third base to go along with a 2-for-4 day at the plate and a run scored.

Check out the Peoria Chiefs Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from August 5, 2011


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