Chiefs Shutout Snappers Friday Night
Peoria, IL- The Peoria Chiefs started 90 minutes behind schedule, but still managed to win their series opener with the Beloit Snappers 6-0 Friday night. The win moves the Chiefs to 18-16 on the season and gives them five wins in their last nine games.
The game was scoreless into the third inning when the Chiefs got to Snappers hurler Junior Mendez. Alex DeLeon led off with a double to left field and scored on a Danny Diekroeger triple to right. When Beloit right fielder Shawn Duinkerk's throw was wild to the infield, Diekroeger came around to score for a 2-0 lead. Newcomer Casey Turgeon doubled to the wall in left field and with one out Nick Thompson was hit by a pitch. Justin Ringo walked to load the bases and Turgeon scored on a fielders' choice off the bat of Collin Radack. Radack stole second and when the throw by catcher Argenis Raga sailed into center, Thompson came home for a 4-0 lead.
Chiefs starter Matt Pearce kept the Snappers off the board through a career-high seven innings. Beloit did not have a runner past second base until the sixth inning when they loaded the bases with two outs. Pearce got Joe Bennie to fly out to right to end the threat, and then threw a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
The Chiefs extended their lead in the bottom of the seventh. Steve Bean led off with a walk against new Snappers pitcher Cody Stull. DeLeon singled and Diekroeger doubled down the left field line to drive in Bean. Turgeon was hit by a pitch to load the bases and with two outs Ringo walked to drive in another run for the 6-0 lead.
Pearce (3-2) got the win with seven shutout innings of three-hit ball, striking out three and walking only one. Jhonny Polanco came in and worked two hitless innings. He struck out the side in order in the eighth and walked one batter and struck out two more in the ninth.
Notes: The game started at 8:31 p.m. after a one hour, 31 minute rain delay...Pearce pitched seven shutout innings to give him 14 ⅓ innings without an earned run dating back to his start May 2 against Burlington...The Chiefs have now outscored their opponents 25-13 in the third inning and 15-7 in the seventh inning this season...Diekroeger notched his first multi-RBI game of the season and his sixth multi-hit game to tie him with Thompson for the team lead in that category...The 6-0 win gives the Chiefs their third shutout victory of the season...Peoria is now 8-5 in the month of May, and they are 12-7 this year when they score first...Peoria is 6-2 this year when scoring five or more runs and they are 17-6 when allowing four or fewer…The Chiefs continue the homestand on Saturday night with game two of three set with the Snappers beginning at 6:30 p.m….It's a postgame fireworks night at Dozer Park…It's Military Appreciation Night at Dozer Park with free Camo hats for the first 1,500 fans courtesy of Hardee's...The Chiefs will also be wearing their specialty camo jerseys during the game...It is a Homer's Reading Program night sponsored by PNC with a pregame parade around the field...The Chiefs are scheduled to start RH Fernando Baez (2-2, 2.55) against Beloit RH Daniel Gossett (1-4, 4.94)… The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 6:15 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 MiLB Inside the Park and Tune-In Radio Apps.