Chiefs Best Bees On Sunday
Peoria, IL- The Peoria Chiefs scored the go-ahead run the fifth inning and added an insurance run in the sixth in their 3-1 win over the Burlington Bees on Sunday. The win moved the Chiefs to 59-50 and an even 21-21 in the second half heading into Monday's matchup.
For the second night in a row the Chiefs loaded the bases in the first inning, this time scoring off Daniel Hurtado. With one out Charlie Tilson singled and moved to second on a ground out by Bruce Caldwell with the hit-and-run on. Jordan Walton walked and Patrick Wisdom reached on an infield single to load the bases, bringing up Breyvic Valera who knocked in Tilson with an infield hit of his own to put the Chiefs up 1-0. With the bases still loaded and two outs Nick Martini popped out to end the inning.
With one swing the Bees tied the game in the fourth inning against Mike Mayers, who was making his Chiefs debut. With one out Wade Hinkle hit is 12th home run of the year, knotting the score at 1-1. That was the only damage allowed by Mayers, has he gave up just one run in 4 2/3 innings.
The Chiefs got the run back in the bottom of the fifth inning against Andres Perez. With one out Tilson walked and with the hit-and-run on scored from first on a double to right field by Caldwell, putting the Chiefs up 2-1. After Alex Blackford took over for Perez, Caldwell advanced to third on a Walton ground out to second, but was stranded there.
Peoria added to their lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Martini walked with one out, and moved to second on a Vargas ground out to first. Gerwuins Velazco hit a bouncer to the left side of the infield that Angel Rosa fielded cleanly, but overthrew first allowing Martini to score on the infield hit and throwing error, extending the Chiefs lead to 3-1.
The Chiefs were hardly threatened following the Bees fourth inning homer. With two outs in the seventh Chevy Clarke and Pedro Toribio reached on subsequent singles, but Joe Donofrio struck out Sherman Johnson to end the inning. With the Chiefs lead still 3-1 heading into the ninth, Dixon Llorens retired the Bees in order to cap the 3-1 win.
Mayers gave up one run on five hits and no walks while striking out three in a career-high best 4 2/3 innings pitched. Donofrio (5-2) tossed 2 1/3 scoreless frames giving up two hits and no walks while fanning three. Llorens pitched two perfect innings, fanning three while earning his eighth save.
Notes: Tilson recorded his 23rd multi-hit game of the season and is now batting .298…Caldwell's RBI was his first as a Chief…Mayers became the seventh Chiefs pitcher this season to allow one run or less in his debut…The 2013 3rd round pick threw a career high 4 2/3 innings…Donofrio has retired 29 of the first 32 batters he's faced this season… Llorens struck out his 52nd batter of the year, the third highest total on team while earning his team-leading 8th save… Llorens pitched his 16 1/3 consecutive scoreless inning, a Chiefs season high for any reliever… Llorens last allowed a run on June 14th at Cedar Rapids…Valera recorded an RBI for the third straight game and notched his team-leading 34th multi-hit game of the year… With the Chiefs first-inning run they have now scored 76 total runs in the first frame this season, the highest of any inning and 15% of their total run production this year… The Chiefs last six games have been decided by three runs or less…Peoria is 40-20 when they score first…The Chiefs continue their series with the Bees with game three on Monday at 7:00 p.m… The Chiefs will start LH Kyle Helisek (7-4, 2.79) against Bees LH Ryan Crowley (9-5, 3.04)… Monday is Markdown Mania Monday with half price tickets as Club Box Seats are $5.00 and Lawn Seats are $3.50…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Premier Print Group Pre-Game Show at 6:45 p.m. on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive which also has downloads for a free app on the iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Android.