Geiger Ties Record as Chiefs Beat Kernels
With the game scoreless in the fourth inning, Geiger put his name alongside Jordan Robison and Josh Vitters in the record books when he cranked a leadoff homer completely out of the stadium. The blast, his fifth in four games and eighth on the season, was just inside the fair pole and easily cleared the wooden party deck in left field.
The Chiefs didn't lead long however as Cedar Rapids bounced back in the bottom of the inning against Jose Rosario. With one out, Rosario hit Zach Wright with a pitch and Oliver Zapata turned a flyball to right into a double for Zach Borenstein when he slid past the ball. Abel Baker was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Wright scored on a fielders' choice. Cedar Rapids took the lead on a wild pitch before Rosario escaped the inning.
With left-handed starter Aaron Meade out of the game in the sixth, the Chiefs came out swinging against righty reliever Shane Riedie. Javier Baez tied the game with his fifth homer of the season, a one-out solo shot to left-center. After leaving runners in scoring position the Chiefs came through with a clutch hit in the eighth. Paul Hoilman walked with one down and Baez singled to right with both runners moving up a base on a groundout by Wes Darvill. With the game tied 2-2, Balaguert drove a two-strike pitch over the left-center field wall for his first professional home run and a 5-2 Chiefs lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, Yao-Lin Wang got a first quick out before walking Kevin Moesquit. Chevy Clarke hit a potential game-ending double play to shortstop but after getting the force at second, Zeke DeVoss threw wild to first and Clarke was safe. Eric Stamets hit a grounder to the bag at second by DeVoss and Darvill collided before getting an out and the tying run came to the plate. Alex Yarbrough singled home Clarke before Taiwan Easterling ran down a deep fly ball off the bat of Frazier Hall to end the game and secure the 5-3 win.
Rosario allowed two runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision. He walked three, hit two and struck out five. Hunter Cervenka (3-0) earned the win while retiring all six batters he faced with three strikeouts. Wang earned his 11th save of the season with one run allowed on three hits over 1 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked one.
Casey's General Store Player of the Game - Yasiel Balaguert (LF) - Balaguert only had one hit on the night but it was a huge hit as his first professional homer put the Chiefs on top 5-2 and proved to be the game winner.
Notes: Geiger has hit five homers in four games...Jordan Robison hit homers in four straight starts May 9-14, 2002 and Josh Vitters matched that streak May 16-19, 2009 all in Beloit...Geiger now leads the Chiefs in home runs despite playing in just 25 games...The Chiefs matched a season-high with three homers...They also hit three on April 16 and July 4...Baez had his ninth multi-hit game and fourth three-hit games...All five of Baez's home runs have been on the road with his last one coming June 14 in Beloit...Baez is batting .382 in 15 road games and .238 in 18 home games...He has back-to-back multi-hit games...Rosario leads the Midwest League with 92 strikeouts and 18 starts and he is also second in the league with 102 1/3 innings pitched...Wang is 11 for 13 in save chances...The Chiefs are just 4-10 in the first game of a road series...Peoria had been 0-for-20 since Wednesday with runners in scoring position before Balaguert's home run...The last two hits with RISP have been three-run homers by Zapata on Wednesday and Balaguert tonight....Yaniel Cabezas snapped an 0-for-12 stretch with a double to lead off the third inning...The Chiefs are 2-2 in Cedar Rapids this season and 7-3 overall against the Kernels...The three-game series continues Sunday at 2:05 p.m...The Chiefs will send RH Joe Zeller (0-1, 3.60) to the mound against Kernels RH Austin Wood (4-7, 4.33)...The broadcast can be heard, starting with the pre-game show at 1:50 p.m. on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive which also has downloads for a free app on the iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Android.