Gomber, Chiefs Win 6th In A Row

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA- The Peoria Chiefs got a fantastic performance from Austin Gomber and scored three runs in the sixth inning to beat the Cedar Rapids Kernels 3-1 and win their sixth game in a row Thursday night. The Chiefs are now 6-2 on the season and 5-0 on the roadtrip heading into the series finale Friday night.

     "Gomber did a really good job of working ahead and keeping his pitch count down" said Chiefs Manager Joe Kruzel. "He mixed pitches and kept the ball down and the bullpen finished it for him with efficient work and going after hitters."

     The Chiefs lost three base runners over the first three innings of the game against Kernels starter John Curtiss. The hosts took a 1-0 lead against Gomber in the bottom of the third as Zack Granite doubled to left with one out and scored on a two-out single by Zach Larson.

     The Chiefs threatened in the fifth before finally breaking through in the sixth inning against Curtiss. Magneuris Sierra led off and singled up the middle for his second hit of the game. Oscar Mercado tripled to the wall in left-center as Sierra flew around the bases to tie the game. Danny Diekroeger put the Chiefs on top 2-1 with a single to left and two outs later Collin Radack singled to put runners on the corners. Curtiss collided with Kernels third baseman TJ White on a grounder by Steve Bean as Diekroeger scored for a 3-1 lead on the single.

     "They (the top of the order) have been doing a good job setting the table," said Kruzel. "Diekroeger had a real good at-bat to give us the lead. We made some really nice plays defensively today too, all over the field. Sierra ran that ball down in the ninth and that was a big play for us."

     Gomber cruised through the sixth and seventh innings while piling up the strikeouts and retiring nine of the last 10 batters he faced. Nick Lomascolo came out of the bullpen and struck out two Kernels in a perfect eighth inning while Robby Rowland retired the Kernels in the ninth to earn the save.

     Gomber (1-1) picked up the win while striking out a career-high eight and tying a career high with seven innings of work. He allowed six hits and one run. Lomascolo retired all three batters he faced with two strikeouts in earning his second hold. Rowland allowed one hit over one shutout inning with two strikeouts to earn the save.

Notes: Mercado is tied for the Midwest League lead with a seven-game hit streak…Radack has three straight multi-hit games with eight hits in that span…Diekroeger has a six-game hit streak while Darren Seferina has a five-game streak…Bean tied a career-high with three hits and drew his team leading fourth walk…Chiefs pitchers struck out 12 and did not issue a walk…The Chiefs lead all Minor League teams who have played eight games with a 1.68 team ERA…Rowland earned his first save since July 20, 2014 with Bradenton in the Florida State League…Gomber threw seven innings in each of his final two regular season starts in 2014… The Chiefs have won six in a row for the first time since June 4-11, 2012 when they won seven in a row…Dating back to last September the Chiefs have won six straight road games…Radack picked up the Chiefs second outfield assist at the plate this season…The six-game roadtrip concludes Friday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with a 6:35 p.m. start…The Chiefs will start RH Daniel Poncedeleon (1-0, 0.00) against Kernels LH Stephen Gonsalves (1-0, 1.50)…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 6:20 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 Tune-In Radio App.