Montanez, Larsen Slay Dragons
May 22, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Dayton, OHâ Drew Larsen's 9th inning single gave the Peoria Chiefs their third straight 1-run win as they defeated the Dayton Dragons 6-5 Sunday afternoon in front of a sellout crowd of 8,951 at Fifth Third Field. All four crowds for this series were over 8200 and the Chiefs are now 14-10 on the road this season, 20-23 overall..
With the game tied 5-5 entering the 9th, Luis Montanez led off with a single to left for his third hit of the day. Josh Arteaga sacrificed Montanez to second as pitcher Jared Sanders made the play. After a pop-up, Drew Larsen singled into shallow center and Montanez slid under the catchers tag to score and give the Chiefs a 6-5 lead.
Left-handed closer Jerry Blevins, who played his college ball at the University of Dayton, retired the Dragons in order in the 9th inning to preserve the win for Paul Schappert. The save was Blevins' second of the series and eighth of the season.
Dayton scored one in the 2nd against Chiefs ace Sean Gallagher and added two more in the 3rd to build a 3-0 lead. It was the first time all season that Gallagher allowed more than one earned run in a game. The Dragons scored on a single and triple in the 2nd and then collected four hits including a RBI double from Ben Himes in the 3rd.
The Chiefs got on the board against Dragons spot starter Zach Stott in the 4th. Eric Patterson led off with a solo homer the Chiefs first long ball since the 1st inning on May 16th. Two batters later, Montanez crushed a solo homer his third of the season to narrow the gape to 3-2.
In the 6th inning, Drew Anderson led off with a single and was caught stealing for the first out. Cody Strait followed with a long solo homer off reliever Walt Nolen to give the Dragons a 4-3 lead. The homer was the first against the Chiefs since May 11th ending a streak of 88 innings without allowing a home run. The bullpen hadn't allowed a homer in 50 1/3 innings worked dating back to May 2nd.
The Chiefs came right back in the 7th inning against George to take the lead. Montanez led off with a double and moved to third on a hit by Josh Arteaga. Albeto Garcia tied the game with a sacrifice fly to left scoring Montanez. After another flyout, Oscar Bernard blooped a single into center scoring Arteaga and giving the Chiefs a 5-4 lead.
Gallagher tossed just five innings for only the second time all season. He allowed a season high three earned runs and a season high eight hits while walking two and striking out six. Gallagher's ERA is now 0.83 and he leads the MWL with 60 strikeouts.
Pepsi Player of the Game
Luis Montanez (LF) â Montanez got the job done with his bat, legs, arm and glove on Sunday. He threw out a runner at the plate to end the 2nd inning and robbed an extra base hit with a diving catch with two on to end the 4th inning. Montanez homerd in the 4th, doubled and scored in the 7th and singled before scoring the winning run in the 9th.
Notes...The Chiefs are now 8-1 in Gallagher's nine starts this season...The Chiefs haven't been three games under .500 since April 26th when they were 8-11...Eric Patterson extended his hit streak to six games...Ryan Harvey was 0-for-4 and is hitless in 14 at-bats since coming off the DL on Thursday...Left-handed reliever Paul Schappart allowed his first hit this season to a left-handed hitter in the 8th inning...Lefties had been 0-for-13 against Schappert...The Chiefs now return home for a four game series against the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays who played as the Battle Creek Yankees the last two seasons...Monday is Mountain Dew Half-Price Monday and Veterans Recognition Night...Game time is 6:30 PM with RH Jesse Estrada on the hill against Southwest Michigan's Andrew Sonnastine as the Chiefs look for their first four game win streak of the season...The game can be heard on 1350 WOAM and www.peoriachiefs.com.
Midwest League Stories from May 22, 2005
- Kernels finish off sweep of Whitecaps - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Cougars Defeated in Fort Wayne Finale - Kane County Cougars
- Snappers and Silverhawks Split Series - Beloit Sky Carp
- Whitecaps have rough weekend in Cedar Rapids - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Crazy eighths: Swing come back again - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Swing Spoil Community Basket Day - Burlington Bees
- LumberKings bring lumber to beat Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Dragons Drop Close Game in Series Finale - Dayton Dragons
- Rains too much for Lugnuts and Devil Rays on Sunday - Lansing Lugnuts
- Montanez, Larsen Slay Dragons - Peoria Chiefs
- Devil Rays-Lugnuts postponed - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Kernel victory worth the wait - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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