Castillo's two HR's, five RBI Push Chiefs to 11-8 Win
PEORIA, IL- Ronald Castillo crushed two home runs, including the go-ahead grand slam in a six-run sixth inning, as the Peoria Chiefs came back from an early 5-0 deficit to win game two of the series 11-8 on Saturday afternoon over the Bowling Green Hot Rods. The victory is the Chiefs second in a row and puts them at 5-4 on the year.
Bowling Green needed just two pitches to score first, as Johnny Field led off the game with a home run to left off of Chiefs starter Chase Brookshire. Jimmy Bosco led off the bottom of the frame with a double, but was left at second base.
The Hot Rods got another one in the next inning when Pat Blair doubled in James Harris, who reached on an error and stole second. The Chiefs again got the leadoff man on in the bottom half as Mason Katz walked, but they didn't score.
In the third, the Hot Rods extended their lead on a Grandon Goetzman double and wild pitch for a 4-0 lead. With a man on second and two outs, James Harris lined one off of Brookshire, fielded at second by Katz, but the run scored, and Brookshire came out of the game trailing 5-0. Chris Perry replaced him and got out of the inning.
Peoria did not get the leadoff man on in the bottom of the third, but instead got back-to-back homers with two outs. Juan Herrera doubled in front of Carson Kelly's first homer of the year, a line shot to left. On the first pitch to Ronald Castillo, he deposited one well over the wall in center for his second dinger in as many games, pulling the Chiefs to within 5-3.
It stayed that way into the fifth, when Peoria tied it after loading the bases to begin the inning. Herrera singled, Kelly was hit by a pitch, and Castillo hit a dribbler to the left of the mound for a single. After a strikeout, Kenny Peoples-Walls laced a double up the right field line to score two and tie the game at five.
The game wasn't tied long, as Field crushed his second homerun of the day, and third of the series, in the sixth for an 8-5 Hot Rods lead. Peoria got those three back and three more in the bottom half, on four straight walks to begin the inning. The big blow came off the bat of Castillo, who hit a line shot over the wall in center for a grand slam and a 10-8 lead. Katz followed with a blast of his own, as the Chiefs went back-to-back for the second time in the game, capping the scoring.
Brookshire went the first 2 2/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. Perry also worked 2 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on three hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Joe Scanio (1-0) tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two hits and three strikeouts. Kyle Barraclough worked the eighth with a walk and a strikeout. Chris Thomas picked up the save (2), giving up a hit with a walk in the ninth.
Notes: Castillo's two homeruns marks the first multi-homer game of his career…Castillo's five runs batted in is two better than his previous career high…Castillo had four hits total, matching his career best…Katz' homerun was his first hit at Dozer Park…Peoples-Walls picked up three hits, giving him the Chiefs first four-game hit streak of the season…This was the second game in a row that the Chiefs had 12 hits, matching their season high…The Chiefs scored six runs in the sixth, matching their season best for runs in an inning, which they did in the seventh inning of the season opener…Herrera and Kelly each scored three runs, the first three run games by an individual this season…Seven extra-base hits and four home runs are season highs…Jimmy Bosco led off for the first time this season, as CJ McElroy Jr. had his first game off…The Chiefs committed a season high four errors…The series and homestand wraps up on Sunday at 1 p.m…. $1 hot dogs, $1 ice cream sandwiches and $1 sodas plus a free ticket to a future Monday-Wednesday game if the Chiefs lose to a future M-W game!$1 hot dogs, $1 ice cream sandwiches and $1 sodas plus a free ticket to a future Monday-Wednesday game if the Chiefs lose to a future M-W ga..RHP Alex Reyes (1-0, 0.00) will make the start for Peoria while RHP German Marquez (0-0, 2.08) goes for Bowling Green…It's the Chiefs first Kids Day of the season…Tickets for kids age 12 and under will be only $5…Kids will also receive a free hot dog, bag of chips, and drink…Kids, age 12 and under, will also get the chance to run the bases at the conclusion of the game…Sundays also feature all fans being able to participate in playing catch on the field before the game…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 12:40pm, on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive which also has downloads for a free app on the iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Android. The broadcast is also available on the Peoria Chiefs Network in the Tune-In Radio App.