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Kernels Blow Out First Place Chiefs in Playoff Preview

August 28, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Kernels Blow Out First Place Chiefs in Playoff Preview

Peoria sloppy and ineffective in 8-3 loss

Cedar Rapids, IA - A night after clinching a playoff spot the first-place Peoria Chiefs turned in an uncharacteristic sloppy effort and lost 8-3 against the Cedar Rapids Kernels Friday night. Facing their likely first-round playoff opponent, the Chiefs did not get a hit after the second inning and walked six batters while dropping to 37-23 on the half.

Chiefs' starter Justin Bristow labored through a long 39-pitch bottom of the first and was fortunate to only give up one run. Tyson Auer started the frame with a walk and Alexi Amarista reached on a bunt single. After a double-steal, Roberto Lopez made it 1-0 with a sacrifice fly to left. Beau Brooks drew a walk and a wild pitch put two in scoring position. Bristow struck out Gabe Jacobo before walking Matt Crawford to load the bases. Angel Castillo struck out swinging to leave the bases loaded.

Peoria bounced right back in the top of the second against Tyler Chatwood. D.J. LeMahieu led off with a walk and moved to third on a single by Michael Brenly. Drew Rundle tied the game with a RBI groundout as Brenly moved to second. Junior Lake reached on an infield single and David Macias put the Chiefs on top 3-1 with a double to left-center.

Cedar Rapids tied the game immediately against an ineffective Bristow. With one down in the second, Darwin Perez drew a walk. Auer tripled to center over the head of Macias to score Perez. On the relay throw to third, Lake overthrew the base and Auer was awarded home as the ball landed in the Chiefs bullpen for an error. After a double by Amarista and a single by Lopez, Bristow escaped the inning when Brooks bounced into a double play.

Jeff Beliveau relieved Bristow in the third and Cedar Rapids took the lead in the fourth. Adam Younger led off with a double and scored on a single by Perez for a 4-3 Kernels advantage. Perez was thrown out at second base on the play for the first out of the inning.

Cedar Rapids broke the game open in the seventh against Erik Hamren. Dwayne Bailey began the inning by drawing a walk and he moved to second on a groundout. Brooks drew a walk and Jacobo made it 5-3 with a single to center. Brooks moved to third on a flyout to deep center and scored on an infield single by Castillo for a 6-3 Kernels lead.

The Kernels poured it on in the eighth against Hamren. Auer led off with a single and stole second. With one out Lopez singled to left and Auer stopped at third until Perez inexplicably threw behind him at third allowing Auer to score easily for a 7-3 lead. Brooks capped the scoring with a single to center plating Lopez.

The Chiefs didn't get a hit after the second inning against Chatwood who improves to 7-7 with the win. He allowed four hits and three runs over six innings. Three different Kernels pitchers threw a perfect inning each and combined to strike out four.

Bristow allowed three runs on four hits while throwing 62 pitches in two innings. He took a no-decision while walking a career-high four and striking two. Beliveau (5-4) took the loss allowing one run on five hits over four innings while striking out four. Hamren allowed four runs on five hits over two innings while walking two and hitting one.

Playoff Watch - With nine games remaining, the Chiefs have a six and a half game lead over Burlington who was rained out at Beloit Friday night. That puts the magic number for a division title at three as the Chiefs hold the tiebreaker over the Bees, winning eight of 11 in the season series.

Casey's General Store Player of the Game - David Macias (CF) - The leadoff hitter drove in both Chiefs runs with a second inning double. He finished 1-for-4 with two RBI and the Chiefs last hit of the game.

Notes... LeMahieu four game hit streak ended with an 0-for-3 night...Kyler Burke got the night off and Nelson Perez hit fourth for just the eighth time all season...Bristow has allowed a run in the first inning in 12 of his 22 starts and a total of 22 runs, 21 earned...He walked a career-high four...Hamren has allowed runs in back-to-back outings...Beliveau leads the Chiefs pitchers with 111 strikeouts, two more than Chris Archer...The Chiefs are 5-3 against Cedar Rapids on the season...This was the first of the eight games to be decided by more than three runs...Cubs first round pick Brett Jackson was placed on the DL Friday with a sore right wrist...Jose Valdez was added from the Boise roster with Jackson expected back on Wednesday against Kane County at home...These two teams have not met since May 4 and the Chiefs lead the season series 5-2...They are likely first round playoff opponents...The four game series continues Saturday at 6:35 p.m. with the RH Austin Bibens-Dirkx (6-1, 1.70) on the hill for the Chiefs against Kernels RH Ryan Chaffee )8-6, 3,69)...The game can be heard starting with the pre-game show at 6:20 PM on 96.5 ESPN Radio and www.peoriachiefs.com

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