Chiefs Win Fifth Straight, 7-3 Over Clinton
Published on August 21, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Chiefs Win Fifth Straight, 7-3 Over Clinton
Burke belts 13th homer; Streaking Chiefs continue set with Clinton Saturday
Peoria, IL - After getting dominated by Clinton LumberKings starter Bobby LaFramboise in three previous outings this season, the Peoria Chiefs made sure the fourth time was the charm as the home team hammered out six runs through 4 1/3 innings against the left-handed hurler in a 7-3 win over their division foes Friday night at O'Brien Field. Kyler Burke delivered the big blow for the offense, pounding a three-run homer in the bottom of the third to help the Chiefs secure their fifth straight victory. Peoria's magic number to clinch a playoff spot now stands at eight as they have a nine-game lead on the three teams tied for the wildcard spot in the Western Division.
Clinton took the lead in the top of third as Chiefs centerfielder Brett Jackson had difficulty picking up a pair of fly balls. Shaver Hansen walked to start the frame. After a Daniel Carroll strikeout, Kyle Seager hit what seemed to be a routine fly to center field. Jackson couldn't locate it, and the ball dropped in for a double with Hansen moving to third. Later with two outs and two on, Ian Bladergroen hit a shallow pop to center with Jackson having visibility problems again. The center fielder made a diving attempt at the ball but couldn't quite come up with it as both runners crossed the plate to give the LumberKings a brief 2-0 lead.
The Chiefs retaliated with four in their half of the third. Junior Lake singled on a push bunt down the first base stripe and moved to third on the play when LaFramboise fielded the ball but threw it down the right field line. David Macias walked to put runners at the corners but both Jackson and Ryan Flaherty struck out looking to bring up Rebel Ridling with two away. With the Chiefs first baseman at the plate, a LaFramboise breaking ball got by catcher Travis Howell, allowing Flaherty to score to tie the game at one. Ridling walked to put runners on first and second for Burke. Burke, one of the Chiefs hottest hitters in the month of August, delivered again as he hammered his 13th homer of the season, a three-run shot, to give the Chiefs the lead at 4-2.
Clinton closed the Chiefs lead to one in the top of the fourth. With two outs and nobody on, Howell walked on four straight Cabrera pitches. Hansen came up and split the gap in right-center field to score Howell and make it a 4-3 ballgame.
Peoria added a pair in the bottom of the fifth. Jackson singled to right leading off the inning, and Flaherty tripled down the right field line to plate the Chiefs leadoff hitter to make it 5-3. Ridling stepped in a smacked a line-drive single to left to bring home Flaherty to give the Chiefs their biggest lead of the night at 6-3. The Chiefs got their final run in the bottom of the eighth when Lake doubled and came around to score on Jackson's RBI single to make it 7-3.
Cabrera (7-2) fired five innings and gave up three runs on three hits while walking three and striking out eight. Kevin Kreier came on and hurled two scoreless frames, striking out one and Erik Hamren, celebrating his 23rd birthday, pitched two perfect innings to earn his seventh save of the season, striking out two batters in the process.
Casey's General Store Player of the Game - Kyler Burke (RF) - Burke was 1-for-4 with a three-run homer. He has driven in 12 runs and scored eight times over his last five ballgames.
Notes... Cabrera moved into a tie for most career wins at O'Brien Field with seven...Tyler Johnson, Miguel Martinez, Todd Blackford and Jake Renshaw also have seven...Friday's game was the coldest home game since April 28 against Cedar Rapids when it was 52 degrees...It was the coldest Chiefs game overall since June 6 at Kane County when the start time temperature was 59 degrees... Flaherty is hitting .373 (31-83) in the month of August...Kreier picked up his team-leading ninth hold...Ridling moved into a tie for 17th on the Chiefs all-time hits list with 141...Hamren recorded his first save since May 10 at Fort Wayne...When Clinton scored two in the top of the third to make it 2-0, it was the first time the Chiefs trailed in 38 innings dating back to August 24's 3-2 extra-inning loss at Quad Cities...Cabrera tied a career-high from 2007 with eight strikeouts...Burke's homer in the third was his first home run against a lefty in 103 at-bats in total this season... Burke recorded his ninth game-winning RBI of the season...He is second on the club in that department...Ridling has 16 game-winning RBIs...The Chiefs continue their four-game series with the LumberKings on Saturday at 6:30 pm...Come out to O'Brien Field for another spectacular fireworks show presented by Par-A-Dice...It is also Vegas Night at the ball park as part of Show Stoppin Saturday...Peoria will send RH Aaron Shafer (8-8, 5.27) to the mound opposed by LH Anthony Vasquez (1-2, 6.75) for Clinton...The game can be heard starting with the pre-game show at 6:15 PM on 96.5 ESPN Radio and www.peoriachiefs.com
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