First-Place Chiefs Hold Off Cougars 7-4
Published on June 5, 2018 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Geneva, IL - The Peoria Chiefs held off a late surge by the Kane County Cougars to take game one of the series by a score of 7-4. The Chiefs improved to 33-25 overall and are now in sole possession of first place in the Western Division with game two of the series set for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
The Chiefs took advantage of a couple errors to jump out to an early lead in the top of the third against Cougars starter Jhoan Duran. Bryce Denton drew a leadoff walk and Jose Martinez singled to put two runners on. Irving Lopez moved both runners up on a groundout and Zach Kirtley sent a ground ball to first base where Yoel Yanqui committed a fielding error as Denton scored to get the Chiefs on the board first. Yariel Gonzalez hit a ground ball through the legs of Yanqui at first to score Martinez as the throw from right field was off line plating Kirtley for a 3-0 lead.
A two-out rally helped the Chiefs tack on in the top of the fifth. Kirtley doubled to the right centerfield gap with two outs and Gonzalez drove him in on a base hit down the first base line but Gonzalez was thrown out at second to end the inning.
Up 4-0, the runs kept coming for Peoria in the top of the sixth on reliever Abraham Almonte. Dennis Ortega greeted the new hurler with a solo home run to left field for a 5-0 advantage. JR Davis singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Matt Fiedler's groundout moved Davis to third and Martinez walked to put runners at the corners. Scott Hurst lined a single to right to bring in Davis as the margin increased to 6-0.
The Peoria lead continued to grow in the top of the seventh against reliever Juan Torres. Kirtley led off with another double to the gap and Gonzalez singled to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Ortega grounded into a double play but Kirtley scored as the lead widened to 7-0.
The Cougars answered in the bottom of the seventh against reliever Levi MaVorhis. Jancarlos Cintron hit a leadoff single followed by a walk from Gabriel Maciel and Jasrado Chisholm single to load the bases. Yanqui cleared the bases with a triple to put the Cougars on the board trailing 7-3. Renae Martinez looped a single to left but Yanqui did not come in to score. MaVorhis left the game and Bryan Dobzanski relieved him with nobody out. Ernie De La Trinidad scored Yanqui on a sacrifice fly to left trimming the deficit to 7-4.
Guillory (6-3) earned the win throwing six scoreless innings on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. MaVorhis did not retire a batter allowing four runs on four hits with one walk and no strikeouts. Dobzanski pitched two scoreless innings without allowing a hit with no walks and two strikeouts. Kodi Whitley picked up the save after setting down the Cougars in order with one strikeout.
Notes... The Chiefs are a season high eight games above .500...They lead Clinton by a half game and Quad Cities by one game in the standings with 12 games left in the half...Lopez had his eight-game hit streak end...Kirtley has a seven-game hit streak...Kirtley's three doubles is a team season high...The last three double game for the Chiefs came on July 14, 2017 by Dylan Carlson...The franchise recor dis four, set by John Santor June 6, 2003...Gonzalez recorded his 14th multi-hit game of the season...The Chiefs are 7-3 on Tuesday's.... Dobzanski has made a team-high 18 appearances...Peoria is 18-7 when scoring first... Peoria is 23-7 when scoring five runs or more... The Chiefs recorded a save for the first time since May 23... Whitley is the eighth pitcher this season to record a save.... Game two of the series is at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday... The Chiefs will start RH Jesus Cruz (0-0, 0.00) against Kane County RH Matt Peacock (2-2, 3.38)...The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 6:15 p.m. on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive and is also available on the Peoria Chiefs Network on the Tune-In Radio App.
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