Chiefs Blown Out 9-0 Thursday
Burlington, IA- The Peoria Chiefs allowed a season-high in runs and lost the series opener 9-0 to the Burlington Bees Thursday night. The loss drops the Chiefs back to .500 on the season at 14-14 with two games left in the series and marks the second time the Chiefs have been shutout in four games.
Burlington blew the game wide open in the second inning against Chiefs lefty Dewin Perez. Perez, who walked five Bees on Saturday in just two innings, walked Zach Houchins to start the inning. With one out Wade Wass singled and Trevor Gretzky walked to load the bases. Number nine hitter Erick Salcedo delivered his first RBI of the season with a bases-clearing double down the left-field line for a 3-0 Bees lead. Perez allowed a single to Kasey Coffman and walked Caleb Adams before leaving the game with the bases loaded and one out. Andrew Daniel greeted reliever Blake McKnight with a grand slam to left field, his second homer of the season, as the Bees took a 7-0 lead. After an error and a two-out single, McKnight got out of the inning with a groundout.
The Bees added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth against McKnight. With one down Fran Whitten doubled and Wass was hit by a pitch in the knee. Gretzky reached on a fielders' choice to put runners on the corners before Salcedo walked. Coffman delivered a bases loaded single to center for an 8-0 lead and Gretzky scored on an error by Danny Diekroeger for a 9-0 Bees lead. Kevin Alexander came out of the Chiefs bullpen and got a flyout to end the inning.
Perez (0-1) allowed six runs on four hits and three walks while striking out one over 1 1/3 innings to take the loss. McKnight allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits, a walk and a hit batter while striking out two over 3 1/3 innings. Alexander threw 2 1/3 hitless and shutout innings while hitting a batter and striking out three. Nick Lomascolo struck out two and allowed one hit in his shutout inning.
Notes: Collin Radack now has a seven-game hit streak…The Chiefs have been shutout twice in four games and have not scored more than two runs since Saturday, with six runs scored over the last 44 innings…Peoria was 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position…Chiefs starting pitchers had not allowed a run in 20 1/3 innings before Perez gave up six in the second…Perez has allowed nine runs, eight earned, on six hits and eight walks in just 3 1/3 innings in two starts against Burlington in the last six days…Ringo has 17 career hits in 11 games at Community Field…All nine Bees runs scored with the bases loaded…The previous high in runs scored against the Chiefs this season was eight from Peoria's 10-8 win over Burlington last Friday in a game started by Perez…The Daniel grand slam was the first hit against the Chiefs in 2015…Peoria has lost their last three series openers on the road…The three-game series continues Friday at 6:30 as the Chiefs start RH Matt Pearce (1-2, 3.43) against Burlington RH Michael Bolaski (1-2, 3.96)…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 6:15 a.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 MiLB Inside the Park and Tune-In Radio Apps.