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MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Win Sixth Straight With Another Big Offensive Game

May 1, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Chiefs Win Sixth Straight With Another Big Offensive Game

Burke collects three hits as Perez drives home three

Burlington, IA - The Peoria Chiefs continued to swing hot bats Thursday night in a 10-6 win over the Burlington Bees to run their win streak to six and close the month of April at a season best 11-8. One day after scoring a season high nine runs on 14 hits, the Chiefs offense went one better with 10 runs again on 14 hits.

The two-out rallies started early for the Chiefs as they put runs on the board against Bees starter Luis Cota in the top of the first. With two down Rebel Ridling and Kyler Burke reached on consecutive singles. Josh Vitters was hit by a pitch and Nelson Perez put the Chiefs on top 2-0 with a single to right.

Burlington bounced right back against Aaron Shafer in the bottom of the first and ended a pair of streaks. Kyle Martin doubled to start the frame and moved to third on a groundout. After a walk to Eric Hosmer, Nick Francis put the Bees on the board with a RBI groundout. The run was the first scored against the Chiefs in 24 innings and the first scored by the Bees in three games.

Peoria extended their lead in the second with more two-out hits. Tony Campana started the rally with a double down the right-field line, his second extra-base hit of the series. Josh Harrison extended his hit streak to nine games with a single to right to score Campana for a 3-1 Chiefs lead. Harrison scored and Ridling reached third on a dropped flyball by Francis in right field that would have ended the inning. Burke gave the Chiefs a 5-1 lead with a double to right-center before Cota escaped the inning.

The Chiefs added another tally in the third when Perez led off with a solo homer down the right-field line, his third of the season. Burlington closed the gap in their half of the third against Shafer. Hosmer reached on a two-out double and scored on a two-run homer by Francis to cut the Chiefs lead to 6-3.

Peoria began to pull away in the fifth against Bees reliever Carson Bryant. Burke greeted the reliever with his second double of the game and ninth of the season. After a wild pitch, Vitters put the Chiefs on top 7-3 with a sac fly to center. The sixth inning brought another run against Bryant. With one down Campana reached on walk and stole second. Harrison drove Campana home for a 8-3 lead before the Chiefs left the bases loaded.

The Chiefs capped their night offensively in the seventh. With one out Mario Mercedes singled to right and Luis Flores drew a walk. Junior Lake made it 10-3 with a triple off the top of the center field wall. However, Lake was thrown out trying to get back to third after the throw from the outfield headed toward the Bees dugout.

The Bees had their best inning of the series in the bottom of the ninth against Chiefs reliever Josh Whitlock. Traling by seven, Wilson Tucker led off with a single and moved to second on a hit by Patrick Norris. Whitlock walked Kevin Martin to load the bases before bouncing back to strike out JD Alfaro. Hosmer cut the Chiefs lead to 10-6 with a double off the left-field wall before Francis flew out to end the game.

Shafer (3-1) picked up the win despite not having his best stuff. The Chiefs ace allowed three runs on five hits over five innings while walking four and striking out two. Chris Huseby tossed two shutout innings while allowing just one hit and striking out three. Whitlock allowed three runs on three hits and a walk while striking out four in his two innings.

Casey's General Store Player of the Games - Kyler Burke (LF)- Burke reached base safely in all five plate appearances Thursday night. He singled in the first, doubled in a run in the second, doubled and scored in the fifth and then walked in his final two plate appearances. Burke leads the MWL with nine doubles and finished 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs and a RBI.

Notes...Harrison has a Chiefs season-high nine game hit streak in which he is 14-for-30 with nine RBI...The Chiefs had not allowed a run since the ninth inning on Sunday...Vitters was the only Cheifs starter without a hit and he was hit by a pitch and delieverd a sac fly..Every Chiefs starter either scored or drove in a run...Peoria has 14 hits in each of their last three 9-inning games...Thursday was the third time this season the Chiefs and their opponents have both scored in the first inning...Burlington's first four hits of the game went for extra bases...Shafer has allowed three home runs this season while no other Chiefs hurler has allowed more than one...The Chiefs are 11-for-19 with runners in scoring position in this season...Burlington is 2-for-18 with RISP...The first five runs and six hits for Peoria came with two outs...Peoria has 28 hits in two games this season and 15 of the hits have been for extra bases...Shafer walked a career-high four...Campana stole his MWL-leading 11th base...The Chiefs end April 11-8 with a .285 team batting average and a 3.85 team ERA...Friday will be the Chiefs last game at Community Field this season while Burlington will still play eight games in Peoria (June 18-21 and August 11-14)...Friday's game starts at 6:30 pm and features Chiefs RH Marcus Hatley (1-0, 5.25) against Bees RH Zach Peterson (1-1, 3.57)...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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