MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Win Fourth Straight, Beat Kernels 4-2

Published on September 1, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Peoria, IL- The Peoria Chiefs won their fourth consecutive game and moved into a tie with Cedar Rapids for the Wild Card Spot with a 4-2 win over the Kernels on Saturday evening at O'Brien Field. The win also coupled with a loss by Quad Cities puts the Chiefs just 1.5 games out of first place in the Western Division.

Cedar Rapids jumped out to an early first inning lead against Chiefs starter Jeremy Papelbon. Peter Bourjos doubled down the right field line and ended up at third base on a fielding error in right by Jim Adduci. The next batter Wilberto Ortiz lined a base hit to score Bourjos and make it a 1-0 game. Papelbon retired the next two batters on groundouts to escape the inning.

Peoria wasted no time bouncing back in the bottom of the first inning against Kernels starter Sean O'Sullivan. Leon Johnson, after missing 10 games with an injury drew a lead off walk. Darwin Barney followed with a double into the right field corner and Johnson scored all the way from first to tie the game 1-1. Jim Adduci kept the rally going with a single into center to put runners on the corners with still no outs. Blake Lalli drove a sacrifice fly into center field to score Barney and put the Chiefs in front 2-1. Russ Canzler kept the inning alive with an opposite field single to plate Adduci and push the Chiefs lead to 3-1.

Barney came through for the second straight at bat in the second inning. After Nate Samson lined a first pitch single into center and stole second base, Barney picked up his second RBI with a single to center to make it 4-1. Addcui got another two out hit and stole second to move into scoring position but Marquez Smith popped out to end the inning.

Casey Lambert came on to relieve Papelbon in the sixth inning and pitched two strong innings before running into trouble in the eighth. Matt Sweeney and Tyler Johnson began the inning with back-to-back singles. Brian Walker drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Peoria went to the bullpen to call on their closer Alex Maestri. Maestri got pinch hitter Abel Nieves to fly out to right but a run scored to make it a 4-2 game. Maestri then stuck out Ryan Mount and PJ Phillips to end the inning and strand the tying runners at the corners. Maestri threw a perfect ninth inning to close the door on the Kernels.

Papelbon picked up his ninth win of the season with five strong innings of work. The lefty allowed a first inning run on six hits while striking out three and walking three. Lambert allowed two hits and a run while striking out three in two plus innings of work. Maestri pitched the final two innings and struck out two to pick up his 11th save of the season.

Gorman's Pub Player of the Game

Alex Maestri (RP) - Maestri entered the game in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and no outs and allowed just one run. Maestri gave up a sacrifice fly but struck out back-to-back hitters with the tying runs on base to preserve the Chiefs win.

Playoff Watch: The top two teams in the division excluding Beloit and Clinton will make the playoffs. With 2 games remaining, the Chiefs are now tied with Cedar Rapids. Kane County is now a game behind Cedar Rapids and Peoria after beating Wisconsin. The Chiefs have two games (at home) against Cedar Rapids while Kane County plays a double header in Wisconsin Sunday afternoon. The Wild Card team will play Beloit in the first round while the Second Half Champion will play Clinton.

Notes... Adduci extended his hitting streak to a season high eight games... Maestri has pitched more than one inning in seven of his 11 saves...Peoria is 58-0 when leading after the seventh inning...Barney has now hit safely in six straight...Blake Lalli had a six game hitting streak snapped but drove in a run for the third straight game...Papelbon is 5-3 since becoming a starter...The attendance of 4,716 puts the Chiefs 3,539 shy of the franchise attendance record set in 2005...The Chiefs and Kernels continue the series on Sunday afternoon at 2:00...It is the final WHOI Kids Count Day at O'Brien Field...Kids 14 and under can run the bases after the game and get player autographs...Peoria will send RH Michael Bartek (0-1, 7.34) to the hill against RH Tommy Mendoza (2-4, 4.53)...The game can be heard live beginning with the pre-game show at 1:45 PM online at www.peoriachiefs.com or on WOAM 1350.

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Midwest League Stories from September 1, 2007


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