Chiefs Drubbed by Kernels Friday Night
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA- The Peoria Chiefs did not get a hit after the third inning and another sloppy game led to an 11-0 loss to the Cedar Rapids Kernels Friday night. The loss drops the Chiefs to 64-58 overall 27-26 in the second half, two games out of a playoff spot with 17 games left.
The game started off sloppy for the Chiefs as Engelb Vielma reached on a bad throw from second baseman Cesar Valera with one out in the bottom of the first. With two down Mitch Garver hit a grounder that somehow got through third baseman Rafael Medina to put runners on second and third. Both plays were ruled hits and Vielma scored when Alex Swim singled to right. Rowan Wick threw Garver out at the plate from right field to end the inning.
In the second the Kernels added on against Blake McKnight (5-10). JD Williams was hit by a pitch and Ryan Walker singled. With two down Jonatan Hinojosa doubled to center for a 3-0 lead before he was thrown out at third on a relay started by CJ McElroy.
In the third, Chad Christensen reached on a grounder off the glove of Cesar Valera that was initially ruled an error but later changed to a single. He stole second and scored on another single by Swim. In the fourth Williams tripled to right and scored on a Tanner Vavra single. Ryan Walker doubled and Hinojosa's lazy fly ball to left was lost in the lights and fell in for a two-run triple. Another ball went through Medina at third and was ruled a double for Christensen as the Kernels extended to an 8-0 lead.
The Kernels scored in the fifth without a hit as Robert Stock walked two, hit one and allowed a sacrifice fly. Two more unearned runs scored in the sixth against Steve Sabatino after a Juan Herrera error at shortstop, a Max Murphy double and a botched double play ball.
With the Chiefs down 11-0, infielder Richy Pedroza took over on the mound and threw the seventh and eighth innings. He struck out two batters each inning and did not allow a base runner.
Notes: Bryan has an eight-game hit streak during which he is 13-for-32 (.406) with six doubles and six runs scored…The Chiefs did not have a hit after Bryan singled with one out and was left at third in the third…The Chiefs have been shutout 11 times this season, tied for the second most in the MWL…McKnight allowed a career-high eight runs and a career-high 12 hits…McKnight is the 36th player in team history with at least 10 losses in a single season…The last position player to pitch for the Chiefs was Jake Stone on May 18 against Wisconsin…CJ McElroy left the game with a right-leg injury after making a diving catch in the bottom of the eighth inning and will be reevaluated on Saturday…The Chiefs and Kernels have played 14 times this season with the Chiefs winning 11…The series continues Saturday at 6:45 p.m. as the Chiefs start RH Arturo Reyes (6-8, 4.00) against Kernels LH Lewis Thorpe (3-2, 4.02)…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 6:30 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.