MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

First Place Chiefs Return Home With a Win

Published on July 16, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Peoria, IL - The Peoria Chiefs won a battle of first place teams as they scored seven times in the final three innings to defeat the visiting Lansing Lugnuts 8-1 in front of 4,701 fans at O'Brien Field on Wednesday night. The win is the fifth straight at home for the Chiefs who improve to 48-46 overall and 18-8 this half. The Peoria Chiefs got out to a first inning lead against Lugnuts starter Luis Perez. Brandon Guyer drew a walk, and Jovan Rosa followed with a base hit. Rebel Ridling picked up his first RBI at home with a double to left field to plate Guyer and put the Chiefs up 1-0. The game stayed 1-0 as both starting pitchers settled in. Jay Jackson came out of the bullpen in relief of Jose Pina to strike out eight batters and not allow a run over four innings. Guyer made a game saving catch with a leaping grab in the left field corner with two runners on base for Lansing to end the sixth inning. The Chiefs added a run in the sixth inning after not scoring since the first against Perez. Ridling got his second double of the night to start the frame. Cliff Andersen went to the opposite field with a base hit to score Ridling and extend the Chiefs lead to 2-0. Peoria broke the contest open in the seventh inning against Perez and Lugnuts reliever Jimmy Dougher. With one out, Jonathan Wyatt hit a solo home run into the Pepsi Picnic Plaza in right field to make it a 3-0 Chiefs lead. After two men were out, the Chiefs went back to work against Dougher. Rosa tripled past a diving Moises Sierra in right field, and Ridling followed with a two-run homer to over the batters eye in center field to put the Chiefs in front 5-0. The Chiefs did more two-out damage in the eighth inning against Dougher. Jake Opitz reached on an error, and Nate Samson singled to put two runners on. After a pop out by Wyatt, Guyer ripped a double into the left field corner to score Opitz and make it 6-0 in favor of the Chiefs. Rosa followed with a two-run single back up the middle to score both Samson and Guyer and extend the lead to 8-0. Lansing broke up the shutout in the ninth inning against Craig Muschko. Matt Liuzza started the inning with a single and went to third on a base hit by Kevin Ahrens. Sierra hit into a fielders choice that scored Ahrens to make it 8-1 Peoria. Jose Pina, who is still on a strict pitch count as he works back from off-season Tommy John surgery, worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings. He allowed a pair of hits while striking out a season-high three batters. Jay Jackson picked up his first career win in a season-high 4 1/3 innings. He struck out a career-high eight batters and did not issue a walk. Craig Muschko notched his fifth save of the season in three innings of work. He allowed a run on three hits while striking out one.

Player of the Game - Rebel Ridling (1B) - In his home debut with the Chiefs, Ridling did not waste any time making a good impression. He finished the night 3-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI, two runs scored and a monster two-run homer in the seventh inning.

Notes...Samson's single in the first inning extended his hitting streak to seven games and also gave him 100 hits on the year...He is the fourth MWL player this season to reach the 100-hit plateau and the 101st in Chiefs history....Bautista matched his season long hitting streak at nine games...Ridling tied a career high with three runs batted in...He drove in three while with Boise on June 29 against Yakima...The Chiefs doubled five times on the night and lead the MWL with 186 doubles...The Chiefs tied a season high with eight extra base hits...Peoria pitchers struck out 12 while walking just one...The Chiefs are 13-12 when a left-handed pitcher starts the game...The series continues on Thursday evening at 7:00... Chiefs Manager Ryne Sandberg will return to the dugout for tomorrow's game...Thursday there will be a Kids Club ice cream social prior to the game...Members of the Kids Club will also receive a tour of O'Brien Field...Peoria will send RH Audy Santana (1-4, 3.65) to the mound while Lansing counters with LH Mark Rzepczynski (4-3, 2.14)...The game can be heard live beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 PM online at www.peoriachiefs.com or on WOAM 1350 AM.

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Midwest League Stories from July 16, 2008


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