
Wisconsin Tops Chiefs in Wild One on Tuesday
June 14, 2011 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Peoria, IL - The Peoria Chiefs got out to an early 5-1 lead against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, but 11 unanswered runs for the Rattlers led to a 12-5 Chiefs' loss on Tuesday. Peoria falls to 33-31 on the year and is now three games behind Quad Cities in the Wild Card race.
After both clubs traded zeros through the first two innings, Wisconsin got on the board first in the top half of the third inning. Mike Brownstein drew a leadoff walk against Chiefs' starter Graham Hicks and moved to second when Chad Stang grounded out. With Reggie Keen at the plate and one out, Brownstein stole third before Keen brought him home with a towering sacrifice fly into center for a 1-0 lead.
Peoria quickly responded in the bottom of the third with a five-run, two-out rally against Wisconsin righty Austin Ross. Matt Szczur reached on a hard grounder down the third base line that was snagged by a diving Mike Walker at third before Pierre LePage walked to put runners at first and second. With two gone, Ryan Cuneo struck out swinging but the pitch bounced in the dirt and got away from catcher Tony Pechek, which allowed Cuneo to reach safely. Greg Rohan evened the game at 1-1 with a bases-loaded walk before Richard Jones gave the Chiefs their first advantage of the game. With the bases full, Jones took a 0-1 pitch the other way that just cleared the left field wall. The blast made it 5-1 and was Peoria's first grand slam at home this season.
Not to be denied, Wisconsin cut its deficit to one in the fourth inning with three runs in Hicks' final frame. After Greg Hopkins flew out, Walker drew a base on balls and Pechek singled into left to put runners on the corners for Brownstein. With one swing of the bat, Brownstein made it 5-4 as he belted a three-run shot over the left field wall and into the berm.
Another three-run stanza in the top of the fifth gave Wisconsin the lead back as Yohan Gonzalez replaced Hicks on the mound. With one out, T.J. Mittlestaedt knocked a base hit into center and advanced to second when Gonzalez was called for a balk. Cody Hawn moved the runner to third with an infield single and Walker evened the score with a base hit into left. With two outs and two on, Gonzalez walked Chris Dennis to load the bases for Pechek who grounded a two-run single through the left side of the diamond to make it 7-5.
Wisconsin added another run in the sixth as the Chiefs brought Alvaro Sosa into the game for Gonzalez. Following two quick outs, Mittlestaedt reached on a bunt single and stole second base in front of Hawn who lined a RBI double into right to score Mittlestaedt for the Rattlers' seventh unanswered run of the game.
Wisconsin threatened again in the seventh with Sosa on the hill, but this time, the Chiefs' defense came through. After Walker grounded out, Dennis lifted a double off the right field wall before Pechek struck out. With two gone, Brownstein singled to Giansanti in right as Dennis rounded third and headed for home. Giansanti however fielded the ball cleanly, came up throwing and put his toss directly on target to Micah Gibbs behind the plate. Gibbs got the ball well before Dennis made it near home plate but Dennis lowered his shoulder, launched himself and knocked the catcher over at full speed. Gibbs held on to end the inning as both benches cleared immediately. After a brief shouting match, the scuffle was broken up and each team returned to its dugout.
The Timber Rattlers added the finishing touches with a grand slam of their own in the eighth to put the game away. After two quick strikeouts, Mittlestaedt reached on an infield single to Soto at shortstop and stole second base. Larry Suarez replaced Sosa with two gone in the inning and walked Hawn before Hopkins reached on a throwing error by Chiefs' third baseman Brandon May. With the bases full, Walker turned on a 1-0 pitch and belted it onto Adams Street past the right field wall for a grand slam and the final four runs on the game.
Hicks allowed four runs on four hits in four innings of work. He walked three and struck out three batters in the no-decision. Gonzalez (1-3) allowed three runs on four hits in one inning of work and suffered his third loss of the year. He walked one and recorded one strikeout. Sosa pitched 2 2/3 innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits. He walked one batter and struck out three. Suarez allowed three unearned runs on one hit in 1/3 innings of work. He walked one batter and also struck out one. Giansanti pitched the final inning and allowed just one hit. He struck out two of the four hitters no faced and did not allow a walk.
Casey's General Store Player of the Game - Richard Jones (DH) - Jones hit his first grand slam of the season just over the left field wall early in the game. Overall, he went 2-for-5 on the night with a run and four RBI.
Notes: ...Tuesday was Peoria's longest nine-inning game of the year at 3:17 ¬Â¦The Chiefs' 12 runs allowed is the most allowed in a nine-inning game this season and tied for the most allowed overall ¬Â¦The Chiefs lost 12-9 in a 12-inning game against Cedar Rapids on April 9 ¬Â¦May Jones is second in the league with 11 homers this season ¬Â¦Giansanti pitched for the second time this season and is the only Chiefs' non-pitcher to work on the mound this season ¬Â¦Peoria struck out a season-high 16 times at the plate ¬Â¦Giansanti and Keen are now tied for the league lead in outfield assists with 11 ¬Â¦Every Chiefs player struck out at least one except Giansanti ¬Â¦Jones' grand slam was the Chiefs' first at home and second overall this season ¬Â¦Peoria continues a four-game series against Wisconsin with a doubleheader on Wednesday ¬Â¦Game one of the doubleheader will begin at 5:00 p.m. with game two starting approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one ¬Â¦Wednesday is Ag Night as well as another $1 Night ¬Â¦Fans can purchase hotdogs, soda, and ice cream sandwiches throughout the game for just $1 each ¬Â¦The Chiefs will start RH Angel Guzman (0-0, 0.00) in game one against Wisconsin RH Tyler Thornburg (6-0, 1.61)...In game two, the Chiefs will start LH Cam Greathouse (4-4, 3.69) against Wisconsin TBA ¬Â¦The broadcast can be heard, starting with the pre-game show at 4:40 p.m. on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive which also has downloads for an iPhone/iPad app and a Droid app.
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