MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Cougars Win Showdown Against Chiefs

Published on May 25, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


GENEVA, IL- The Peoria Chiefs allowed an early home run and never recovered dropping a series opener against the first place Kane County Cougars 7-3 Sunday night. Their third loss in a row drops the Chiefs to 27-22, five and a half games behind the Cougars.

Kane County got the scoring started in the second inning as former Chiefs infielder Jacob Rogers bounced an automatic double over the wall in right-center. Alex Reyes struck out Jordan Hankins before Cael Brockmeyer launched his first home run of the season into the left-field party deck for a 2-0 Cougars lead.

"It's never easy when you fall behind on the road when you aren't playing well," said manager Joe Kruzel. "Alex did a good job pitching above some errors and non-plays keeping us in the game but we had trouble getting the offense going until the ninth inning."

The Chiefs got on the board in the third inning against Juan Paniagua. Jimmy Bosco doubled to right with one out and scored ahead of the throw home after a single by Michael Schulze. With the tying run at second, Paniagua spun quickly and picked off Schulze before C.J. McElroy Jr. popped out to end the inning.

Kane County extended their leads with solo tallies in each of the next two innings. In the fourth, Yasiel Balaguert walked with one out and scored all the way from first on a double by Jordan Hankins. Danny Lockhart started the fifth with a single to right and he stole second. An error by Schulze at third base put Cougars on the corners and Lockhart scored on a wild pitch for a 4-1 Kane County lead.

The Cougars put the game away in the eighth inning against reliever Chase Brookshire. Ben Carhart singled as did Balaguert. Rogers doubled to left for a 5-1 lead and Hankins doubled past a drawn-in infield to score two for a 7-1 score.

Peoria tacked on two late runs in the ninth against Tyler Bremer. McElroy walked to start the inning and scored on a triple off the wall by Vaughn Bryan. Juan Herrera's sac fly scored Bryan to cut the lead to 7-3. Ringo double to right but Bremer retired the next two batters to end the game.

Reyes (3-3) took his second straight loss allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits over 6 2/3 innings. Reyes walked just one and struck out seven while allowing a home run. Brookshire allowed three runs on four hits and a walk in his first outing in four days. The lefty struck out one and threw a wild pitch in 1/3 of an inning. Jhonny Polanco retired all three batters he faced.

"We didn't swing the bats well tonight but our defense didn't make some plays we need to make and this game got out of hand late," said Kruzel. "The bottom of the eighth really cost us. Give Kane County credit, they made quality pitches and plays to get off the hook when they needed them."

Notes: Reyes threw a season-high 6 2/3 innings, his career high is seven innings from July 29, 2013Reyes walked just one, six days after walking six in a loss against ClintonBrookshire allowed his first runs as a reliever after going 12 2/3 scoreless on the season when coming out of the bullpenThe Chiefs are 2-6 in Sunday gamesPeoria is 10-7 in the first game of a series, 6-3 on the roadKane County began the game with just 13 homers, the lowest team total in the Midwest LeagueFormer Chiefs Yasiel Balaguert and Jacob Rogers played in Peoria in 2012 and faced the Chiefs for the first timeRHP Gerardo Concepcion is also on the roster but was placed on the DL Friday after taking a line drive off the foot and is no longer with the teamRingo has hit safely in all six Chiefs starts and has six extra-base hits Peoria and Kane County will meet five times in the next eight days and eight times before June 12Game two of this series is Monday at 1:00 p.m. as the Chiefs send LH Jimmy Reed (2-1, 4.97) to the mound against Kane County RH Justin Amlung (3-0, 1.75)The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 12:45 p.m., on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive which also has downloads for a free app on the iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Android. The broadcast is also available on the Peoria Chiefs Network in the Tune-In Radio App.

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Midwest League Stories from May 25, 2014


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