Chiefs Score 11 Late to Beat Wisconsin
GRAND CHUTE, WI- The Peoria Chiefs were held hitless over the first seven innings before breaking out in a big way Sunday afternoon to beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 11-1. The win, keyed by a seven-run, eight-hit eighth inning, moves the Chiefs to 2-2 on the young season.
"This was a nice win for us today with an early morning on a travel day and coming straight to the park," said Chiefs manager Joe Kruzel. "It's a great team win for us to start this series and this roadtrip."
Neither offense got going early as Peoria's Dewin Perez and Wisconsin's Kodi Medeiros kept the game hitless through three innings. Wisconsin had the best early chance as Perez walked three batters in the third inning, but after a visit from pitching coach Dernier Orozco and the Chiefs training staff, he got a groundout to third to end the threat.
Perez took the mound to start the fourth inning as well but left with a blister before starting the inning. Blake McKnight took over on the mound and kept the games scoreless through four. Wisconsin broke through in the fifth inning as Jose Pena singled and later scored on a double off the right-field wall by Monte Harrison.
Mederios did not allow a hit through six innings as he struck out seven Chiefs and walked one. The Chiefs didn't get a ball out of the infield against the 18-year-old who walked only one and threw 63 pitches in his outing. David Burkhalter kept the Chiefs hitless in the seventh inning as Nick Thompson drew a walk and was left at third after a pickoff error.
"He (Mederios) did a great job keeping the ball down and mixing it in and out and not giving us anything," said Kruzel. "I thought our guys in relief of Perez (McKnight and Fernando Baez) did a great job limiting Wisconsin and keeping us in the game."
Collin Radack started the eighth inning by breaking up the no-hitter with a triple into the left-field corner, his first hit of the season. Steve Bean reached on a single that deflected off Burkhalter's leg and Radack stayed at third. Blake Drake tied the game with a double to left and Darren Seferina put the Chiefs on top 2-1 with a single to left. Seferina stole second and on the throw, Drake stole home for a 3-1 lead. Magneuris Sierra tripled to the 405 sign in right-center and Oscar Mercado's sacrifice fly put the Chiefs on top 5-1. With two outs in the inning Nick Thompson singled and Harvey Martin took over on the mound for Burkhalter. Alex DeLeon greeted the new hurler with a RBI double to left and Radack's second hit of the inning put the Chiefs on top 7-1.
"We hung in there and had some great at-bats and once Radack got that first hit it was like the lid came off and we got going," said Kruzel. "We had some good approaches late in the game with good at-bats and credit our hitters for hanging in there."
Peoria added on in the ninth inning as Drake led off with a walk and Seferina singled. With one out and runners on the corners, Drake scored on a wild pitch by Martin for an 8-1 lead. Mercado launched the Chiefs first home run of the season, a towering fly ball over the 20-foot-high wall in left field for a 10-1 lead. Tyler Linehan came out of the bullpen and the Chiefs added a final run as Deleon singled home Danny Diekroeger who had doubled.
Perez walked four and struck out three through three hitless and shutout innings before giving way to McKnight. McKnight, in his second outing of the season, allowed one run on five hits over 2 1/3 innings while striking out three. Fernando Baez (1-1) earned the win out of the bullpen with 2 2/3 shutout innings. He allowed one hit and walked three while striking out three. Zach Loraine threw a hitless ninth inning with a hit batter and a strikeout.
Notes: The Chiefs last had a player steal home on June 27, 2011 as Rubi Silva swiped home, also at Wisconsin…The triple in the eighth for Radack was his first hit of the season and now all Chiefs position players have a hit…Radack is the first Chiefs player to have two hits in an inning since teammate Steve Bean had two hits against Clinton on May 20, 2014…The Chiefs scored seven runs in an inning last season against Clinton on June 13…DeLeon leads the Chiefs with three doubles and four RBI…Mercado hit three home runs last season at Johnson City and now has a three-game hit streak…The Chiefs last scored 10 runs in a game in beating Burlington 10-7 on August 13, 2014…Peoria did not have a triple in the three home games but they had two in the eighth inning Sunday…The Chiefs were 8-for-12 with runners in scoring position…All nine Chiefs players had a hit over the last two innings…Seferina has stolen a base in each of his last two starts…The Chiefs have seven stolen bases in four games this season…Bean threw out two attempted base-stealers Sunday and has thrown out 4-of-5 to start the season…The three-inning start by Perez marks the third time in four games the Chiefs starter has gone just three inning…Perez marks the second Chiefs starting pitcher to leave with an injury this season as Jack Flaherty went on the DL after his Opening Day start…The three-game series continues Monday at 6:35 p.m. as the Chiefs send RH Matt Pearce (0-0, 0.00) to the mound against Rattlers LH Luis Ortega (0-0, 0.00)…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 6:20 p.m., 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.