Chirino Crowned All-Time Hit Leader
June 24, 2018 - Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
SAUGET, Ill. - In a ballgame where the (15-20) Normal CornBelters loaded the bases four times, set a new season high in runs, RBI and home runs including Chris Iriart who launched three in a row, Santiago Chirino stole the show as he was crowned the new all-time hit king in the Frontier League, in a 14-5 victory over the (17-22) Gateway Grizzlies on Saturday night.
The first part of history took place in the second inning at GCS Ballpark. Chirino singled into left-center to tie the all-time hit record of 635 by former Washington Wild Things Chris Sidick. After walking in his next two at-bats, the King was finally crowned in the sixth inning when of course, he went the other way for a single into right. Chi Chi wrote his name in the history books, as he was able to do this in front of his host family since he started his career in Normal and his wife. The Belter veteran has come along way since he knocked his first hit, a single, on May 17, 2013, against the Evansville Otters.
"It was something special, he is a special kid and human being," said manager Billy Horn. He means so much to this organization. He is obviously the face of this franchise and he has been here forever. The longevity and consistency of what he has done, we talk about the record and hits, and the guy hits .330, .340 every year. He is something else defensively though. A true leader, and true captain, he is just a wonderful human being."
While Chirino stole the headlines, Chris Iriart had one heck of a game. After Normal put up four runs in the first, Iriart drove in the fifth run off a double in the fourth. The first basemen then went on to homer in his next three straight at-bats to now sit at second in the league with 11. He ended game two of the series with four hits and four RBI. The dingers came in the 6th, 7th, and 9th and were the most in a game by a CornBelter this season. Recently he made an adjustment with Pasky (Pascual Santiago: Hitting Coach) and it showed tonight.
"He (Pasky) does his thing, coaches third base, works with the offense, and it allows me to manage the ball club and bullpen, which is just as important as any other part of the game ... I have complete confidence and trust in him. Having him is a big blessing and the best thing, in my opinion, I have decided to do as bring in anyone on board."
In the fifth, after the CornBelters loaded the bases for the fourth time, Andrew Godbold hit an opposite-field grand slam on the first pitch to put Normal up 9-3. Tanner Lubach joined the long ball club two innings later and hit his seventh home run to increase the advantage to 12-4.
Besides the bats dominating Gateway, the pitching also shinned. Jacinto Garcia (3-1) picked up the victory in five innings of work only allowing four runs and limiting the Grizzlies to just one walk. Mark Hendricks (6th and 7th), Trevor Simms (8th), Kuehl McEachern (9th) all came out the pen and finished the game with only allowing one run and one free pass combined.
"We are right in the middle of this race, there is no press and no oh my goodness lets have a fire sale to get rid of all of our players, that's not going to happen. We are right in the thick of it and we are looking forward to coming out tomorrow and we don't have to worry about the record and all this other stuff, I know Chirino is like that too, he doesn't care about the record. He really just wants to win, but it does mean a lot to him and his family back in Venezuela and host family was here and his wife was here so that was something really special."
Matt Portland looks to win the rubber match tomorrow for Normal with first pitch at 6:05 p.m.
Frontier League Stories from June 24, 2018
- Freedom Fall in Finale with Rascals - Florence Y'alls
- Rascals Defeat Freedom in Finale - River City Rascals
- Six Run Second Leads Otters to Sweep of Miners - Evansville Otters
- Comeback Falls Short as Otters Sweep Miners - Southern Illinois Miners
- Crushers Continue Winning Ways On Road - Lake Erie Crushers
- Wild Things Snap Four-Game Skid Sunday at Schaumburg - Washington Wild Things
- ThunderBolts' Rally Falls Short in 4-3 Loss - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Ninth Inning Comeback Seals Series Win in Joliet - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Boomers Unable to Catch Washington - Schaumburg Boomers
- Slammers Lose First Series in over Two Weeks - Joliet Slammers
- Chirino Crowned All-Time Hit Leader - Normal CornBelters
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