Snappers Suffer Rain-Shortened Loss

BELOIT, Wisc.- The Snappers' bats never really got going Monday night, as they fell to the Chiefs 8-1. The cool, damp conditions, which eventually led to the game being called due to rain after seven innings, weren't exactly ideal for hitting, but the Chiefs found a way to pile on runs early.                               

Peoria got to Beloit starter Xavier Altamarino (2-3, 4.15 ERA) right away in the first inning. Magneuris Sierra led the game off with a single, and then made it to third base when Edmundo Sosa reached on a throwing error by Altamarino. Brian O'Keefe drove in Sierra with a sacrifice fly to open the scoring.

The Chiefs did most of their damage in the third. Altamarino gave up back-to-back singles to Sierra and Sosa to start the inning, and then Eliezer Alvarez delivered with a two-run double. After an O'Keefe RBI single, Altamarino recorded two outs and appeared to have an escape route out of the inning, but Dylan Becker kept the rally going with an RBI double, putting the Snappers at a 5-0 deficit early. The Chiefs continued their onslaught in the fourth inning on R.J. Dennard's RBI single, and then Becker hit his second RBI double of the game in the fifth.

Beloit finally got on the board in the sixth, when Jesus Lopez hit an RBI double following a Steven Pallares walk. The Chiefs received some insurance on a Sosa RBI double in the seventh inning before the game was called.

Altamarino had his worst outing of the season thus far, as he lasted just three innings while giving up six runs (five earned) on nine hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out two. Beloit's bullpen was forced to eat up some innings due to the short start: Armando Ruiz tossed a scoreless fourth inning, and then Evan Manarino threw three innings of two-run ball to finish the game.

Peoria starter Derian Gonzalez (1-0, 2.51 ERA) had no issues mowing through the Snappers' lineup. He threw 5 2/3 innings while allowing just a run on three hits. Gonzalez walked three and struck out five.

Beloit's bats were quiet on this night, as they recorded just three hits in the shortened game. Lopez, Edwin Diaz, and Trace Loehr had a hit each, with Lopez's being the only extra-base hit.

The Snappers will look to even up the three-game set tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. CT with James Naile (1-4, 4.39 ERA) on the mound. Peoria will counter with Jake Woodford (0-3, 3.68 ERA). 

Written by: Bradley Star