Chiefs Win 8-3 Saturday Night
Published on August 6, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Peoria, IL - The Peoria Chiefs were no-hit through five innings before smashing 11 hits over the final three innings to defeat the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 8-3 in front of 7,011 fans on Saturday night. Peoria improves to 5-1 in August, 16-25 on the half and 49-62 overall on the season.
After a scoreless first inning, Cedar Rapids grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the second against Chiefs' starter Starling Peralta. With the bases empty and two down, Francis Larson turned on a 2-1 pitch and drove it deep to left for his first homer of the season with the Kernels.
The Kernels tacked on a run in the third and added another in the fourth to increase their advantage against Peralta. With two gone in the third, Rolando Gomez drew a walk and advanced to second on a Jeremy Cruz single before Ricky Alvarez made it 2-0 with a RBI base hit to center. In the fourth, Justin Bass ripped a base hit to center and traveled to third when Jean Almanzar singled up the middle on a successful hit-and-run. With one out, Wes Hatton made it 3-0 with a RBI single to left-center that fell just out of reach of a diving Easterling.
Kernels' starter AJ Schugel retired the first 13 Chiefs before Anthony Giansanti reached on a two-base error in the fifth. Peoria still didn't have a hit until Arismendy Alcantara singled to start the sixth and he and moved to third when Ben Klafczynski followed with a base hit to right. With runners on the corners, Easterling put the Chiefs on the board for the first time with a long sacrifice fly to center. After Rubi Silva flew out, Dustin Geiger slapped a two-out triple to the wall in straightaway center field that scored Klafczynski for a 3-2 ballgame.
As Cedar Rapids went to the bullpen in the seventh inning, the Chiefs evened the contest with the help of a Kernels' error. With one down Rafael Valdes reached safely on a throwing error by Gomez at short and Micah Gibbs drew a one-out walk. After a pop-up, the Kernels' brought in lefty Tyler Kehrer to face Klafczynksi with runners at first and second. Klafczynski came through with a two-out RBI single into the right-center field gap that scored Valdes to make it 3-3.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Chiefs took a commanding lead as Peoria pounded out five runs on eight hits against Kehrer. Silva knocked a leadoff single to left and moved to second when Geiger laid down a sacrifice bunt. With one out, Richard Jones gave the Chiefs a 4-3 lead with a RBI double into right-center field that scored Silva from second. After Giansanti grounded out to short, Valdes began a streak of five straight Chiefs' hits with a RBI infield single to short that made it 5-3. Gibbs followed with a RBI double to left and Alcantara made it 7-3 with a run scoring single to right. With two gone, Klafczynski knocked his third hit of the game into right field and Easterling sent a RBI single to left that scored Alcantara for a 8-3 final score.
Peralta gave up three earned runs in five innings and he also struck out five batters. He walked one and gave up seven hits in the no decision. Ramon Garcia (1-0) replaced Peralta in the sixth inning and tossed three shutout innings. He struck out three of the nine batters he faced and earned his first win as a Chief. Roderik Pichardo closed the game for the Chiefs, giving up one hit in the ninth inning.
Casey's General Store Player of the Game - Ben Klafczynski (LF) - Klafczynski went 3-for-4 on Saturday with a run scored and one driven in. It was his first three hit game with Peoria and his second multi-hit game in as many games. His single in the seventh inning tied the game and he collected a hit in each of his final three at-bats.
Midwest League Stories from August 6, 2011
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- TinCaps weather rain, top Lugs in opener - Lansing Lugnuts
- Chiefs Win 8-3 Saturday Night - Peoria Chiefs
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- Bees Batter Butler, Take Series Opener - Clinton LumberKings
- Bees "Bash" Their Way To 8-4 Win - Burlington Bees
- Hamilton, Smith Lead Dragons to 12-0 Win - Dayton Dragons
- Kane County beats Wisconsin to open 7-game home stand - Kane County Cougars
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- Cougars defeat Wisconsin 5-2 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Monty Strikes Again, Hawks Win Late - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Wunderlich Homers In Loss At South Bend - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Brian Hernandez Joins Kernels from Inland Empire; Brandon Decker to DL - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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