Three Chiefs Pitchers Shutout Wisconsin 3-0
April 7, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Appleton, WI - Three Peoria Chiefs combined on a five hit shutout and the Chiefs took advantage of four errors to knock off the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 3-0 Friday night in 36 degree weather. The Chiefs are now 1-1 on the roadtrip and the season.
The outfield adventure on flyballs began in the top of the 1st and resulted in the Chiefs first lead of the season. With two outs, Robinson Chirinos doubled down the left field line. Ryan Norwood hit a flyball to centerfield that Eddy Hernandez got to but dropped allowing Chirinos to score the game's first run.
Todd Blackford picked up where he left off last season when he won his only Chiefs start in the season finale. Blackford struck out a career high six and kept the Rattlers off the scoreboard over six innings. He allowed five hits and one walk.
The Chiefs held a 1-0 lead into the 8th when they finally cracked the Wisconsin bullpen. Chirinos drew a leadoff walk from Jeff Gilmore and Norwood followed with a single up the middle advancing Chiinos to third. A passed ball moved Norwood to 2nd and Chirinos scored on an error by first baseman Jeff Flaig. A fielders choice resulted in Norwood being tagged out but also allowed pinch runner Luis Rivera to advance to third. With one out, Jesus Valdez laid down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt single scoring Rivera and moving Dylan Johnton to second. The Chiefs then loaded the bases but didn't score again taking a 3-0 lead into the 9th inning.
The relief pitching was nearly flawless for the Chiefs. Roberto Sotolongo threw two hitless innings with two strikeouts while walking just one. Left-hander Ed Campusano struck out the side in the 8th inning. In the 9th, Campusano walked one but picked up his 4th strikeout and then got a ground out to end the game and pick up his first save.
Pepsi Player of the Game
Todd Blackford (SP) - Blackford picked up the Chiefs first win of the season with five shutout innings. The Indiana native struck out a career high six and walked just one. He has won two straight with the Chiefs having picked up a win in his only appearance last September.
Notes... Sotolongo was making his professional debut...Campusano's only other career save came last May 2nd against Fort Wayne at O'Brien Field...Brandon Taylor collected two hits for the 2nd straight night...Jake Muyco threw out the only Rattlers runner who attempted to steal...Mike Billek (0-0) takes the mound Saturday afternoon against Paul Fagan (0-0)...Game time is 1:05...The broadcast begins with the pregame show on www.peoriachiefs.com at 12:50.
Midwest League Stories from April 7, 2006
- Bees Snap Opening Day O-fer - Burlington Bees
- Cougars Win Again - Kane County Cougars
- Three Chiefs Pitchers Shutout Wisconsin 3-0 - Peoria Chiefs
- Silver Hawks Come from Five Down to Beat Dragons 9-8 - Dayton Dragons
- Lugnuts Take Second Straight - Lansing Lugnuts
- Chiefs freeze out Rattlers 3-0 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Chiefs freeze out Rattlers 3-0 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Three runs in the ninth not enough; Quad Cities falls to 0-2 - Quad Cities River Bandits
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- Rays Season at C. O. Brown opens in Royal Fashion - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Swing stymied on opening day - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Tim Mattison joins Kernels; Espinoza assigned to Tempe - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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