Chiefs Sweep Rattlers

Peoria, IL - The Peoria Chiefs scored five runs in the seventh inning to beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 6-3 Sunday night and complete their second three game sweep of Wisconsin in nine days. The win, their sixth in a row at home, moves the Chiefs to a season-best two games over .500 at 8-6 as they embark on a seven-game road trip.

     The game was scoreless into the fourth inning as Alvaro Seijas and Carlos Herrera dueled. The Chiefs broke through in the fourth with Yariel Gonzalez advancing to second base on a wild pitch after he reached on a fielders' choice. Juan Yepez drove in his 13^th run of the season with a single to right to put the Chiefs on top 1-0.
     Seijas got into trouble in the sixth with a pair of walks and he left the game with two outs. Kevin Hamann took over and an infield single by Demi Orimoloye loaded the bases. Tristan Lutz worked a walk to force home Franly Mallen and tie the game 1-1.
     Wisconsin took their first lead of the game in the top of the seventh. With two on and two out, Hamann gave way to Levi MaVorhis. Gabriel Garcia singled to right to bring home Mallen for a 2-1 Rattlers lead while Denton threw out Joangtel Segovia at third to end the inning.
     The Chiefs rallied immediately against Robbie Hitt. Yepez doubled off the wall in left-center and scored on the next pitch as Denton singled to left to tie the game. With one down and Denton on second, Julio Rodriguez gave the Chiefs the lead with a single to right. Irving Lopez singled and Jonatan Machado singled to right to bring home Rodriguez for a 4-2 lead. Taylor Bryant kept the inning going with a double to right to score Lopez and Machado came home on a groundout by Elehuris Montero for a 6-2 lead. Wisconsin plated a final run against MaVorhis in the eighth for the 6-3 final.
     Seijas took a no-decision as he allowed one run on two hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out seven. Hamann allowed one run on two hits over one inning with two walks and two strikeouts. MaVorhis (1-0) got the win as he allowed one run on three hits over 1 1/3 innings. Fabian Blanco retired all three batters he faced in the ninth inning to earn his first save of the season.
Notes… Gonzalez has been on base in 12 straight games…Six different Chiefs each drove in one run…Chiefs starting pitchers have gone at least 5 2/3 innings in five straight games…The Chiefs swept Wisconsin in a three-game series for the second straight weekend…The Chiefs have won six in a row at home…The six hits in the seventh inning are a high for hits in an inning…Chiefs hitters have been intentionally walked in two straight games…The Chiefs have hit around twice this season…The team heads to Beloit, Wisconsin for four games in a seven-game road trip…RH Winston Nicacio (0-0, 8.00) starts for the Chiefs against Beloit RH Xavier Altamirano (0-1, 5.79) at 6:30 p.m…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 6:15 p.m. on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive and is also available on the Peoria Chiefs Network in the Tune-In Radio App.