Chiefs Shutout Sunday in Shortened Game
- The Peoria Chiefs and Kane County Cougars played five full innings before rain ended Sunday's game early with the Chiefs losing 3-0. The loss is Peoria's third straight and drops the Chiefs to 1-3 in the second half and 34-38 overall in advance of a five-game road trip.
The game was scoreless through the first two innings as Chiefs starter Daniel Poncedeleon and Cougars starter Ethan Elias allowed two hits each before the game was delayed by rain for 36 minutes. The rain came with one out in the top of the third and after the delay both pitchers stayed in the game with Poncedeleon getting two quick outs to end the third.
The Cougars started the scoring against Poncedeleon in the fourth inning. Former Chief Ildemaro Vargas led off with a walk and moved to third on a single by Cody Regis. Vargas scored and Regis went to second on a single by Marty Herum to make it 1-0. Regis went to third when Colin Bray reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a single by Michael Perez to make it 2-0. Bray scored on a single by Henry Castillo to make it 3-0 Cougars.
Peoria's best chance to score came in the bottom of the fourth when Oscar Mecardo led off with a single and stole second. However Elias got a pop up to right and two straight strikeouts to eliminate the threat as Mercado was stranded at second. After the Chiefs went in order in the fifth the rains came again the game was officially stopped after a 50 minute rain delay
Poncedeleon (6-2) took the loss after he pitched five innings and allowed three runs on eight hits and one walk, striking out three.
Notes: Darren Seferina's seven-game hit streak ends with a 0-for-2 game…Poncedeleon has two straight losses, both against Kane County…He won eight straight regular season starts, dating back to last August, before the June 19 loss at Kane County…Poncedeleon threw the Chiefs second complete game of the season, joining Austin Gomber…Peoria is 1-5 against Kane County in the last nine days…Former Chief Ildemaro Vargas has 17 hits and nine runs scored in nien games against the Chiefs this season...The Chiefs are 9-12 in June…Oscar Mercado had two hits in the game for his 17th multi-hit game of the season, giving him the third-most multi-hit games among active Chiefs…Mercado stole his team-best 27th base and is second in the MWL in steals…He has a double in two straight games…Peoria has now had two games shortened by rain, the first was six innings June 10 at Dozer Park against West Michigan…The Chiefs will now begin a five-game road trip with a three game series with the LumberKings in Clinton starting Monday at 6:30 p.m.…The pitching matchup pits Peoria RH Luis Perdomo (3-6, 2.55) against Clinton RH Jeffeson Medina (2-7, 4.45)…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.