Chiefs win their sixth straight with sweep of Clinton
July 6, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Peoria, IL - Behind a magnificent pitching performance by Todd Blackford, the Peoria Chiefs completed the sweep of the Clinton LumberKings, winning 6-1 Thursday night at O'Brien Field. Blackford fired seven innings and improved to 8-2 on the year while Yusuf Carter led the offense with his sixth homer of the year.
With the game still scoreless heading into the bottom of the fourth, Carter powered the Chiefs to a 1-0 lead when he hammered a Juan Jimenez pitch over the lawn down the left field line. The Chiefs added another run in the fifth. Blake Lalli walked and stole second base. With one out, Nate Price bounced one through the right side to score Lalli and give Peoria a 2-0 cushion.
Clinton got one back in the top of the sixth. Jose Vallejo reached on an error with one out and moved to second when David Peterson was hit by a pitch. Terry Blunt singled into right-center to plate Vallejo and cut the Chiefs' lead to one.
The Chiefs added some insurance in the eighth. Price scored on a fielder's choice, and Davy Gregg was brought home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Kyle Reynolds. Carter recorded his second RBI of the night with a soft fly ball single to center to plate Mark Reed. Peoria capped off a four-run inning on a run-scoring fielder's choice by Ryne Malone to make it a 6-1 game.
Blackford went seven innings and allowed just one unearned run on three hits in picking up his eighth win of the year. Scott Koerber pitched 2/3 scoreless innings and Matt Avery nailed down the final four outs for Blackford. Juan Jimenez was draped with the loss for the LumberKings. He went seven innings and gave up two runs on five hits.
Pepsi Player of the Game
Todd Blackford (RHP) - The Chiefs' starter won his team-leading eighth game of the year while striking out five and walking none.
Notes... The Chiefs have now held a six-game winning streak twice this year...Blackford has won his last four decisions and has not allowed an earned run against Clnton in 19 2/3 innings pitched...This is the Chiefs fifth four-game sweep of the season...Attendance Thursday night was 1,796...The Chiefs will travel to Beloit for two games starting Friday. RHP Matt Weber (0-0, 0.00 ) will start on the mound for the Chiefs tomorrow going up against RHP Adam Hawes (2-3, 5.05)...First pitch of the first game is slated for 7:00 PM and the pre-game show will kick-off at 6:45 on www.peoriachiefs.com
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