South Bend walks to win over Chiefs
August 17, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
South Bend, IN- The Peoria Chiefs fell 4-2 Wednesday night to the South Bend Silver Hawks after walking four South Bend hitters in the 8th inning including a bases loaded walk to force in the go-ahead run. With the loss the Chiefs fall to 24-27 on the half, three games out of the Wild Card race in the Western Division with 19 games remaining.
With the game tied 2-2 in the 8th inning, Jerry Blevins relieved Drew Dickson and walked Emilio Bonafacio to start the inning. Wilkin Castillo laid down a sac bunt and Bonafacio made it all the way to third when nobody covered third base. After a strikeout for out number two, Blevins was ordered to intentionally walk Carlos Gonzales to put runners on the corners. Blevins then walked Cesar Nicolas on a 3-1 pitch to load the bases. On a full count pitch, Blevins walked Orlando Mercado to force in Bonafacio with the go-ahead run. During the next at-bat a wild pitch allowed Gonzales to score for a 4-2 Silver Hawks lead.
The Chiefs jumped out first against South Bend starter Koley Kolberg. Sam Fuld reached on an error by Bonafacio and scored on a long two-run homer from Ryan Harvey. Harvey, starting for the first time since Thursday because of a sore hamstring, blasted his MWL leading 22nd homer with his first swing and now has 88 RBI as well.
The Chiefs had chances to score in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th innings but left runners in scoring position each time. South Bend knocked Chiefs starter Mike Billek from the game in the 6th inning. Bonafacio reached on a single and Castillo bunted for a hit while Bonafacio advanced to third on a Billek error. Murillo singled to center to score Bonafacio and send Castillo to third. Gonazales flew out to left and Castillo scored when Drew Larsen's throw went halfway down the third base line. Larsen recovered to throw out Murillo at the plate on the next play to end the inning after Mercado had singled.
In the top of the 8th, the Chiefs threatened but left the bases loaded. Sam Fuld reached on a bunt singled and Eric Patterson sacrificed to the pitcher. Both runners were safe when the but was misplayed by hurler Esmerling Vasquez. Harvey attempted to sacrifice, but his bunt was too close to Vasquez who threw Fuld out at third. Jesse Schmidt followed with a grounder that was misplayed at second base allowing everyone to reach safely with one out. Vasquez recovered to strikeout Larsen before Anthony Granato grounded out to end the inning.
Billek went 5 1/3 innings allowing two runs on six hits while striking out three. He took a no-decision for the third time in five starts with the Chiefs. Drew Dickson threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings in which he allowed just one hit. Blevins (3-6) took the loss despite not allowing a hit. The lefthander walked four, struck out one and allowed two runs.
Pepsi Player of the Game Ryan Harvey (DH) - Harvey homered in the first inning on his first swing as a starter since Thursday. He finished the game 1-for-4 with a HR, two RBI and a run scored.
Notes... The Chiefs were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position...South Bend leads the season series 3-0 with five games remaining...The Chiefs will have Matt Weber on the mound in the series finale on Thursday night against Kellen Raab....Game time is 7:00 PM and all the action can be heard on WOAM 1350 AM or www.peoriachiefs.com.
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