Strong pitching leads Chiefs past Beloit 2-1
August 29, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Beloit, WI - The Peoria Chiefs received outstanding pitching for nine innings for a crucial 2-1 over the Beloit Snappers on Monday night at Pohlman Field. With the win over the Wild Card leading Snappers, the Chiefs are now 31-33 on the half and two games back with seven to play.
Mike Billek started for the Chiefs and retired the last 10 batters he faced after giving up five hits in the first three innings. He dominated the Snappers lineup through six and finished with five strikeouts and no walks. Michael Hyle started the 7th inning and retired the first five batters he faced before issuing a two out walk in the 8th. Jeff Teasley entered and got a pop-up to end the 8th. In the 9th inning he retired the first batter before walking Jeremy Pickrel to bring the winning run to the plate. Teasley retired Johnny Woodard on a fly out and struck out Trevor Plouffe looking to end the game and pick up his first save. The three Chiefs right-handers issued five hits, two walks, no earned runs and struck out six on the night.
The Chiefs gave Billek an early lead when Sam Fuld drove the first pitch off the right field wall for a triple and scored on a groundout by newcomer Steve Harris. Snappers right-hander Kevin Slowey, a 2nd round pick this June, retired the next 16 batters and looked very impressive through seven innings.
Beloit tied the game with an unearned run in the 2nd. Plouffe reached on an infield single with one out and advanced to second on a passed ball by Oscar Bernard. Javi Sanchez singled to left to bring in Plouffe for a 1-1 score. The Snappers ran themselves out of a chance for the lead in the 3rd. Landon Burt singled and was off and running when Deacon Burns popped up foul behind the plate to Bernard. Burt passed second ad failed to re-touch the base on his way back to first and was called out when the Chiefs threw to second. David Winfree followed with a two-out triple that would have scored Burt from first.
The pitchers duel continued into the 8th inning with the game tied 1-1. Anthony Granato started the 8th by drawing a walk on a full count. It was just the sixth walk issued this season by Slowey. Bernard fouled off two sac bunt attempts before singling to right-center and sending Granato to 3rd. After a strikeout, Luis Rivera hit a soft roller to short that scored Granato for a 2-1 Chiefs lead.
Billek took a no-decision for the second straight start as Hyle picked up the win in relief to move to 1-0 in two Chiefs appearances. Teasley, who had four saves in Boise, picked up his first Midwest League save. Slowey (3-1) took the loss for Beloit despite an impressive outing.
The Chiefs are in fourth place in the Wild Card race. Beloit and Kane County are tied for the Wild Card lead at 33-31 with Cedar Rapids one game back at 32-32 after all three teams lost Monday. The Chiefs are 31-33, two games behind and one game in front of 30-34 Burlington. The Chiefs own the tiebreaker over Cedar Rapids and Beloit but not against Kane County or Burlington. Quad Cities leads the Western Division at 36-28, three games ahead of Beloit and Kane County with seven games remaining.
Pepsi Player of the Game Mike Billek (SP) -The Chiefs righthander was downright filthy against the Snappers in the middle innings. He pitched around hits in the 1st and 3rd and allowed an unearned run in the 2nd. Billek retired the final 10 batters he faced and struck out five on the night.
Notes... The Chiefs clinched the season series 7-2 with three games to play in Beloit this week...Sam Fuld has reached on a basehit to leadoff four straight games for the Chiefs and now has a six game hit streak...On Tuesday at 7:00 PM the Chiefs send RH Angel Guzman who is on the Cubs 40-man roster to the mound...He is rehabbing from a right arm injury and is expected to be on a 60-pitch pitch count...Beloit will throw RH Matt Garza who was a 1st round draft pick this June out of Fresno State University... The game can be heard on 1350 WOAM and www.peoriachiefs.com.
Midwest League Stories from August 29, 2005
- Kernels lose opener to Swing, don't lose ground in chase - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Bees ride Dossett back into win column - Burlington Bees
- Swing tie HR record, hold off Kernels - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Strong pitching leads Chiefs past Beloit 2-1 - Peoria Chiefs
- Timber rattled - Dayton Dragons
- Snappers lose another heartbreaker - Beloit Sky Carp
- Home win streak reaches five for Rays - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Magic number stalls at one, Whitecaps shutout by South Bend - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Cougars cooled off by Devil Rays - Kane County Cougars
- Dragons edge Rattlers - Dayton Dragons
- Ellis returns from DL stint - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Swing poised to make playoff push - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Right hander Angel Garcia has been placed on the disabled list - Beloit Sky Carp
- Back to school celebration with Staples and Devil Rays - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Silver Hawks sweep L-Kings - South Bend Silver Hawks
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