MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Win Fourth Straight, Beat Kernels 8-2

Published on August 8, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Peoria, IL - The Peoria Chiefs continued to produce runs and results on Monday by scoring eight times in the middle four innings en route to an 8-2 win over Cedar Rapids. The Chiefs have now won four straight games for the first time since May 19-23 when the club won a season-high five straight. Peoria improves to 18-25 in the half and 51-62 on the season.

Heavy rains and wet grounds prior to the first pitch delayed the start time for 71 minutes as grounds crew members worked feverishly to prepare the playing surface. When the game began shortly after 8:00 p.m., both starters got through the first two innings unscathed and took a scoreless ballgame into the third.

In the third, Peoria grabbed the first lead of the game with four runs on three hits against Kernels' righty Brian Diemer. Jesus Morelli took a pitch to the ribs to begin the frame and moved to second on Arismendy Alcantara's single to left. With two on and nobody out, Taiwan Easterling doubled down the third-base line to score Morelli from second for a 1-0 advantage. Rubi Silva followed with his own RBI double to left that brought home Alcantara and Easterling for a 3-0 ballgame. Dustin Geiger sent Silva to third with a long fly-out to center and Richard Jones made it 4-0 with a sacrifice fly to deep right field.

Cedar Rapids got one run back in the top half of the fourth and avoided the shutout against Chiefs' left-hander Frank Del Valle. Travis Witherspoon led off with a line drive single to right and traveled to second on his 41st stolen base of the season. With one out, Jeremy Cruz made it 4-1 with a RBI single up the middle that scored Witherspoon from second.

Not to be denied, the Chiefs used a two-out rally in both the fourth and fifth innings to take a commanding lead against Diemer and the Kernels. With one out in the fourth, Micah Gibbs ripped a base hit into left and moved to second on a wild pitch before Alcantara drove a RBI single to center for a 5-1 ballgame. In the fifth, Easterling began the frame with a line drive single to right and Jones added two more runs with his team-leading 20th homer of the season. The Chiefs' slugger sent a 1-0 pitch over the left field wall to give Peoria a 7-1 advantage.

Hoping for a different outcome, Cedar Rapids went to the bullpen in the sixth and brought in right-hander Ty Kelley, but the Chiefs continued to swing a hot bat. Rafael Valdes led off with a double to left-center field and moved to third on Gibbs' fly-out to center. With two down, Alcantara drove home his second run of the game with a RBI single to right.

With Luis Liria on the mound in the final inning, Witherspoon notched the final run of the game. After Wes Hatton struck out to begin the ninth, Witherspoon placed a 2-1 pitch onto the left field concourse for a solo home run and an 8-2 final run.

Del Valle (2-2) allowed just one run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings of work. He did not allow a walk, struck out two batters, and earned his second win of the season and second in as many starts. Liria pitched the final 3 1/3 innings and allowed one run on one hit. He did not allow a walk, struck out two batters, and notched his second save with the Chiefs this year.

Casey's General Store Player of the Game - Arismendy Alcantara (2B) - Alcantara went 3-for-3 on Monday with one run scored and two driven in. It was his fourth three-hit game of the year and his 28th multi-hit game in 2011.

Notes: Jones is now 18th on the Chiefs' single season RBI list with 79...Jones' 10th homer at O'Brien Field is tied for the single-season record with Rebel Ridling (2009)...Jones' 20th homer is tied for seventh in Chiefs' history with Ryan Flaherty (2009)...Peoria has scored at least seven runs in eight of 14 games against Cedar Rapids this season...Jones now has 12 career homers at O'Brien Field, which is one shy of Ridling's for the most career at O'Brien Field...Jones has at least one RBI in five of his last six games played...Peoria has scored at least six runs in each of the last four games...Jones' 20 homers and 79 RBI are good for second in the league...Del Valle's 5 2/3 innings are a career-high...Liria allowed his first homer as a reliever with Peoria this season...The Chiefs Peoria completes a four-game series and eight-game homestand on Tuesday with a 7:00 p.m. start against Cedar Rapids...Tuesday is Superstition Night as well as a KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Ticket Special...Fans can purchase one ticket at full price and receive a second ticket for free by presenting a KRAFT American Cheese Singles package wrapper at the box office...The Chiefs will start RH Brett Wallach (0-1, 6.75) against Cedar Rapids RH Seth Fowler (0-2, 8.53)...The broadcast can be heard, starting with the pre-game show at 6:40 p.m. on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive which also has downloads for an iPhone/iPad app, a Blackberry app and a Droid app.

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Midwest League Stories from August 8, 2011


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