Pelfrey, Kernels Sweep Chiefs with 6-3 Monday Win
Published on July 1, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Cedar Rapids, IA- The Peoria Chiefs fell 6-3 to Minnesota Twins rehabbing starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey and the Cedar Rapids Kernels Monday night as the first-place hosts earned the three-game sweep. The loss drops the Chiefs to 4-7 on the half and 42-36 on the season.
The Chiefs struck first against the ninth overall selection of the 2005 draft. With two outs in the top of the first inning, Jacob Wilson launched a solo homer over the 407 foot sign in center field for his 12th home run of the season. Pelfrey recovered quickly and retired the next 13 Chiefs batters.
Cedar Rapids came out swinging themselves as Niko Goodrum led off the bottom of the first with a triple to right off Brad Watson. Jorge Polanco grounded back to Watson but the throw to first went down the right-field line as Goodrum scored to tie the game. Travis Harrison put Cedar Rapids on top 2-1 with a single and the Kernels put runners on the corners on a Wilson error at second base. Adam Brett Walker gave the hosts a 3-1 lead with a sacrifice fly to left field.
The Kernels extended their lead in the fourth inning when German-born centerfielder Max Kepler homered to right off Watson. The blast was the third of the season for Kepler who joined the Kernels at the All-Star break.
Peoria struck again in the sixth off Pelfrey, who went on the Twins disabled list June 23 with a back injury. Charlie Tilson led off with a triple into the right-field corner and Jesus Montero was hit by a pitch in the back. CJ McElroy, playing in his first Chiefs game since April 29, grounded out to third base as Tilson scored to cut the deficit to 4-2. A diving stop at second base and a strikeout kept the Chiefs from getting any closer.
The Kernels added two insurance runs in the eighth against Sam Tuivailala. With one down, Harrison drew a walk and scored on a triple just inside the first-base line by Kepler. Walker beat out an infield single to bring home Kepler for a 6-2 lead before the Chiefs ended the inning on a double play.
Peoria scored in the ninth but couldn't bring the tying run to the plate. Nick Martini singled to center and moved to second with two outs. Patrick Wisdom's second single of the night plated Martini to cut the lead to 6-3 but Mason Melotakis earned his first save of the season as Jeremy Schaffer grounded out to end the game.
Watson (0-2) suffered the loss allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits over five innings. He struck out two and hit a batter. Mike Aldrete threw a perfect inning with two strikeouts as Thomas Lee threw a perfect inning with one strikeout. Tuivailala allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in one inning of work. Pelfrey allowed two runs on two hits with no walks and six strikeouts over six innings. He threw 70 pitches in his first rehab start and earned the win.
Notes: All 11 games the Chiefs have played this half have been decided by four runs or lessThere was only one walk in the game and it was drawn by the Kernels with one out in the eighthWisdom has five multi-hit games in six starts at Cedar Rapids this season going 12-for-26 at Perfect Game FieldWilson leads the Chiefs with 57 RBI and is tied with Wisdom for the team lead in home runs with 12McElroy returned to the Chiefs off the disabled list on Sunday and made his first MWL start since April 29 in Bowling GreenWatson grew up in Urbandale, Iowa, a suburb of Des Moines and 130 miles from Cedar RapidsAldrete is tied for the team lead with 23 appearancesMartini batted second for the first time all seasonTilson has five sacrifices, second on the teamThe Chiefs swept the Kernels here June 14-16 and have now been swept twice on the season (April 28-30 at Bowling Green)Breyvic Valera had started 41 straight games since game one of the DH in Kane County on May 16The Chiefs now commute to Burlington for a two-game seriesThe series begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday with the Chiefs starting RH Cory Jones (3-1, 1.16) against Bees LH Tyler DeLoach (1-1, 3.60) The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Premier Print Group pre-game show at 6:15 p.m. on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive which also has downloads for a free app on the iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Android.
Midwest League Stories from July 1, 2013
- River Bandits Walk-Off LumberKings, 9-8 - Clinton LumberKings
- Beloit Breaks out the Brooms against Burlinton - Beloit Sky Carp
- Pelfrey, Kernels Sweep Chiefs with 6-3 Monday Win - Peoria Chiefs
- Snappers Sweep Bees - Burlington Bees
- South Bend Edges Dragons in 12 Innings, 5-4 - Dayton Dragons
- Poised for a dramatic win, Lugnuts instead fall in 10th - Lansing Lugnuts
- Silver Hawks Need Twelve Innings to Complete Sweep of Dragons - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Rattlers rally late to edge Kane County - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Cougars Start July with Loss - Kane County Cougars
- Captains Double up TinCaps, 6-3 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Paulino Has Three Hits in Captains 6-3 Win - Lake County Captains
- Kernels Win 11th Straight in Pelfrey's Rehab Start - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- River Bandits Open Mediacom Frog Hopper - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Dragons All-Star Reliever Promoted to Bakersfield - Dayton Dragons
- Holm Tabbed MWL Player of the Week - West Michigan Whitecaps
- West Michigan Swept As Skid Continues - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Guerrieri's Six Shutout Sends Hot Rods to Sweep - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Michael Ynoa Promoted From Beloit to Stockton - Beloit Sky Carp
- Correa Wins All-Star Futures Game Final Vote - Quad Cities River Bandits
- John Murphy assigned to Kernels Jeremias Pineda placed on 7-day DL - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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