Chiefs Take Game One Against Rattlers
Peoria, IL- The Peoria Chiefs scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning and grabbed an insurance run in the sixth on their way to a 3-1 win against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Wednesday. The win moved the Chiefs above .500 in the season's second half with a 23-22 record and a 61-51 mark overall.
The Chiefs manufactured a run in the second inning to grab the early lead against Austin Ross. Jordan Walton began the inning with a double and moved to third on a Jeremy Schaffer single. Bruce Caldwell drove in Walton with a sacrifice fly to deep center field, putting the Chiefs up 1-0.
Chris Perry scattered four hits through the first four innings before the Timber Rattlers capitalized with a runner in scoring position in the top of the fifth to tie the game. Orlando Arcia singled to lead off the inning and stole second base. With one out Chris McFarland tripled him home to tie the game 1-1. McFarland tried to score on a grounder by Alfredo Rodriguez, but Bruce Caldwell threw him out at the plate to preserve the tie.
The Chiefs regained the lead against former IVC High School and Illinois State stand out Chris Razo in the bottom of the fifth inning. Herrera led off the frame with a single and stole second before reaching third on Jonathan Keener's strike-three wild pitch. With runners at the corners Herrera scored as Charlie Tilson grounded into a fielder's choice to put the Chiefs up 2-1.
Peoria added to their lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Breyvic Valera led off with a single and stole second. Walton drove him in with a single to right and advanced to second on the throw home. After Walton advanced to second on a ground out and Bruce Caldwell walked, Razo turned a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning with the Chiefs leading 3-1.
The three runs were plenty for Perry as he only surrendered one run through seven innings before giving way to Joe Donofrio, who pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth. Wisconsin put the lead off runner on in the top of the ninth as Michael Reed singled. Donofrio struck out Victor Roache on a full count and rung up Garrett Cooper before getting Max Walla to fly out to left, capping the Chiefs 3-1 win.
Perry (2-1) pitched seven innings giving up one run on seven hits without walking a batter and striking out four. Donofrio tossed two scoreless innings giving up one hit and no walks while striking out five to earn his fifth save. Razo (1-1), pitching in front of numerous family and friends from Chillicothe, suffered the loss allowing two runs on three hits over two innings. Razo pitched at Dozer Park numerous times as a high school star at IVC and for Illinois State against Bradley.
Notes: Walton led off the second inning with 19th double and eventually recorded his 26th multi-hit game…Tilson tallied his 24th multi-hit game of the season… Valera had a hit from both sides of the plate in his team-leading 35th multi-hit game…Herrera recorded his first hit with the Chiefs in the second inning and went on to notch his first multi-hit game while tying a career-high with three hits…Perry tied a career high with seven innings pitched and allowed one run or less for the third time with the Chiefs and his second in as many starts…Donofrio made his team-leading 33rd appearance while striking out a career high five…The Chiefs struck out nine without issuing a walk….Valera tied a team high with two steals in a game….The Chiefs are 19-16 in first game of the series…With the win the Chiefs are 6-0 on Wednesday's, which is a guaranteed win by the Chiefs or fans in attendance receive a free ticket to any Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday game… The Chiefs continue their series against Wisconsin with game two on Thursday at 7:00 p.m…The Chiefs will start RH Silfredo Garcia (3-4, 4.79) against Timber Rattlers RH Ryan Gibbard (4-3, 5.15)… It's Thirsty Thursday with $1 12-ounce domestic draft beer and fountain drinks presented by Miller Lite…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Premier Print Group Pre-Game Show at 6:45 p.m. on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive which also has downloads for a free app on the iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Android.