Chiefs rack up 20 hits to drop LumberKings

CLINTON, IA (August 8, 2017) - 20 hits by the Peoria Chiefs was more than enough to beat the Clinton LumberKings 12-4 on Tuesday night at Ashford University Field. Chiefs (26-19, 56-58) catcher Brian O'Keefe homered twice during the game, becoming the second Peoria slugger this season with a multi-home run game against LumberKings (18-26, 49-63) pitching.
Peoria's offense came consistently through the night scoring in all but three innings. After taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the LumberKings grabbed their only lead of the game in the bottom of the inning.
Clinton scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning, the only runs Chiefs starter Anthony Shew allowed. Joseph Rosa singled, in his first at-bat a LumberKing, and was followed by a Jhombeyker Morales double to left. Joe Rizzo then tied the game with an RBI ground out to first and two batters later Nick Zammarelli III homered into the Lumber Lounge for a two-run homer that gave the LumberKings a 3-1 lead. The home run was his sixth of the season.
Shew (1-0) then shutout the LumberKings over his next five innings of work. He worked six innings, allowed five hits, walked one and struck out five to earn his first win of the season.
The Chiefs tied the game in the top of the third, against LumberKings starter Nick Wells, with two runs. O'Keefe hit the first of his two home runs with an opposite field solo homer to right and Ryan McCarvel doubled home Stefan Trosclair to tie the game.
The Chiefs took the lead for good in the top of the fourth inning on the first of five RBI from Juan Yepez.
In the top of the sixth, Yepez added three more RBI when he cleared the bases with a three-run triple to left. The first of the two runs in the sixth were charged to Wells (5-9) who worked five plus innings for the LumberKings and was hung with the loss.
O'Keefe hit his second home run of the game with two men out in the top of the eighth inning and the Chiefs put the game out of reach when they sent nine men to the plate in the top of the ninth to score four more runs.
Clinton added their final run of the night in the bottom of the ninth when Yojhan Quevedo scored from third on a Kramer Robertson throwing error.
The 20 hits allowed by the LumberKings were the second most allowed in a game by Clinton pitching this season.
The LumberKings will take Wednesday off before beginning a four-game series and road trip with the Beloit Snappers on Thursday night.
About the LumberKings
The LumberKings, the only remaining Charter Member of the Midwest League, are playing their 62nd season in the league and their ninth as an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Since the club's inception in 1937, 271 former Clinton players have made it to the Major Leagues. The LumberKings play at historic Ashford University Field located off 6th Avenue North at 537 Ballpark Drive. Tickets to all 70 home games are available by calling (563) 242-0727 or by visiting lumberkings.com