Chiefs Win 7-5 Saturday
Published on June 7, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Peoria, IL - The Peoria Chiefs won their third straight game over the first-place Clinton LumberKings 7-5 Saturday night at O'Brien Field in the third game of their four-game set in front of 6,075 fans. The win improves the Chiefs to 27-35 overall on the season and 16-15 at O'Brien Field.
The Chiefs were first on the board, wasting no time in the bottom of the first. Nate Samson led off with a bunt off of Clinton's starter Michael Kirkman, making his debut with the LumberKings. After Marquez Smith lined out to the second baseman, Brandon Guyer stepped up and doubled to right field to put runners at second and third. A single to left field by Jovan Rosa brought Samson and Guyer home and put the Chiefs up 2-0. The Chiefs continued to hit the ball as Luis Bautista singled to right, and Mario Mercedes reached on an infield single to drive home Rosa. They each advanced on a wild pitch by Kirkman, and Dylan Johnston was walked to load the bases. The three runners were stranded as Gian Guzman grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Chiefs ahead 3-0.
After three scoreless innings, the LumberKings brought in their first run of the night as Chiefs reliever Alberto Cabrera came in for starter Kevin Kreier in the fifth inning. David Paisano was walked with one out and moved from first to third on a base hit to right by Jacob Kaase. Miguel Alfonzo's sacrifice fly drove in Paisano to bring the score to 3-1 before Engel Beltre struck out to end the inning.
The Chiefs replied with their own run in the bottom of the fifth off LumberKings reliever Jorge Quintero. With one out, Rosa walked to first and a double by Bautista put runners at second and third. Mario Mercedes reached on a fielders choice, and a single from Johnston drove in Bautista before Mercedes was thrown out at third to end the inning with a score of 4-1.
The runs continued in the sixth when Renny Osuna singled off Cabrera and was followed by a single from Ian Gac to put runners at first and second. Mitch Moreland doubled to bring Osuna home, making the score 4-2. A broken bat grounder to third brought Gac face-to-face with Mercedes at the plate where Gac scored when Mercedes dropped the ball. With the score at 4-3, a sacrifice fly by Paisano brought another run home for the LumberKings to tie the game at 4-4.
Peoria jumped back into the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Guzman singled to left and was quickly followed with a single from Andersen. Both advanced on a balk by Quintero to put runners at second and third. Samson's drive to left field brought Guzman home to again put the Chiefs ahead 5-4. Clinton then sent Ryan Turner to the mound to relieve Quintero before Smith added the fourth-straight hit of the inning to bring in Andersen for another run, making it 6-4 with no outs. Guyer struck out for the Chiefs first out of the inning, but another single by Rosa brought home the Chiefs third run of the inning, advancing their lead to 7-4.
Clinton threatened in the seventh against pitcher Audy Santana. Alfonso, Beltre, and Osuna each had a single to load the bases with nobody out. Gac, the Midwest League leader in home runs and RBI, stepped up to the plate, but the Chiefs got out of trouble as Gac grounded into a 1-2-3 double play for the first two outs of the inning. Santana then struck out Moreland to end the inning and keep the Chiefs lead at 7-4.
A double from Beltre followed by a double by Osuna gave Clinton one more run in the top of the ninth off closer Steve Vento. A broken bat groundout by Gac ended the game, giving the Chiefs their third win over the LumberKings 7-5.
Kreier pitched four scoreless innings but did not factor in the decision for the Chiefs, allowing three hits for the LumberKings. He walked one and struck out four. Cabrera picked up the win for the Chiefs with two innings of work. He allowed four runs (two earned runs) on four hits, while walking one and striking out two. Santana worked two innings and gave up three hits and struck out two. Vento had his sixth save of the season as the closer, throwing one inning and allowing one run on two hits.
Midwest League Stories from June 7, 2008
- Five run fifth gives Whitecaps large lead; Suspended game to be resumed Sunday - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Cougars Walk Off to Beat Snappers - Kane County Cougars
- Chiefs Win 7-5 Saturday - Peoria Chiefs
- Bees Lose Third In A Row To Kernals - Burlington Bees
- Bandits and Timber Rattlers game suspended - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Kernels win fourth in a row, 5-1, over Burlington - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Loons Win, Then Suspend - Great Lakes Loons
- Lugnuts and Wizards Suspended - Lansing Lugnuts
- Silver Hawks Edge Dragons 3-2 - Dayton Dragons
- Game suspended - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Chiefs Gain Center Fielder from Daytona, Johnson Goes to Mesa - Peoria Chiefs
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