Chiefs cool off Rattlers

PEORIA, IL - The Peoria Chiefs used a four run fifth inning to defeat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 4-1 in the regularly scheduled game on Thursday night at O'Brien Field. Anthony Giansanti's homer in the fourth put the Chiefs in front. Pitchers Hayden Simpson and Eric Jokisch made it stand up and the Chiefs moved past the Rattlers into second place in the Western Division of the Midwest League.

Wisconsin (26-21) took the lead with an unearned run in the top of the first inning. The Rattlers had Nick Shaw at second and Robbie Garvey at first with one out and Chris Dennis at the plate. Dennis sent a grounder wide of first base and Chiefs first baseman Ryan Cuneo fielded the ball and fired to second to force Garvey. But, the return throw from shortstop Arismendy Alcantara to try and get Dennis for the inning ending double play was wild. That allowed Dennis to reach and Shaw score.

Nelson retired the first 11 batters he faced in the game. Greg Rohan singled to right on an 0-2 pitch with two outs in the fourth, but Nelson retired the next batter to end the inning with the Rattlers still up 1-0.

Peoria starting pitcher Hayden Simpson allowed the one run on two hits and struck out seven through five innings.

The Chiefs (27-20) rallied in the bottom of the fifth. Micah Gibbs reached on an error on Greg Hopkins to start the inning. One out later, Giansanti lined a 1-0 pitch from Nelson to the grass seats in left field for a two-run homer and a 2-1 lead.

Nelson walked the next batter on four pitches, but got the second out. However, the third out proved elusive. Matt Szczur doubled in a run. Then, a grounder off the bat of Pierre LePage went through the legs of shortstop Yadiel Rivera. Szczur scored on the play and the Chiefs were up 4-1.

Jokisch came on in relief of Simpson and worked around a pair of walks and a pair of hits over the final two innings to pick up the save.

The Rattlers continue their road trip by starting a four game series with the Kane County Cougars at Elfstrom Stadium on Friday night in Geneva, Illinois. Jameson Dun (0-0, 3.00) is the scheduled starter for the Rattlers. Kane County has Yordano Ventura (0-0, 13.50) as their scheduled starting pitcher.

Game time on Friday is 7:00pm. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:40pm.

HOME RUN:
PEO:
Anthony Giansanti (5th, 1 on in 5th, off Jimmy Nelson, 1 out)

WP: Hayden Simpson (1-1)
LP: Jimmy Nelson (1-4)
SAVE: Eric Jokisch (1)

TIME: 1:43
ATTN: 2,318