Herrera, Perez Homer Chiefs to 7-4 Win

PEORIA, IL- Juan Herrera homered in the first inning and Luis Perez crushed a three-run homer as part of a six-run fourth inning to power the Peoria Chiefs to a 7-4 victory over the Beloit Snappers on Wednesday night. The win snaps the Chiefs six-game losing streak and brings their record to 28-30 in the second half and 65-62 overall with 12 games remaining.

   The Chiefs began the scoring with a run in the first inning off Junior Mendez. After the first two batters were retired, Herrera launched his second home run of the year way over the left field wall for a 1-0 lead.

   Beloit tied the game in the second against Luis Perdomo. With one out, Phil Pohl was hit by a pitch and he moved to second on a wild pitch. Following a strikeout, Luis Baez lined a single to left and Pohl just beat the relay throw at the plate.

   Peoria reclaimed the lead with six runs in the fourth. Herrera was hit by a pitch and Justin Ringo singled to open the inning. Carson Kelly sacrificed each into scoring position before Rowan Wick pulled a single to right to score Herrera and send Ringo to third. Steve Bean followed with a line drive single to right scoring Ringo and sending Wick to third. Perez was next and he deposited the first pitch of his at bat for a line drive home run to left to open a 6-1 lead. Mendez was relieved by Joe Michaud and the Chiefs added one more run when Michael Schulze singled. CJ McElroy Jr. roped a double over Justin Higley's head in right and Richy Pedroza hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Schulze.

   Beloit got two runs back in the fifth as Higley walked and Baez singled. A strikeout and a force out put runners at the corners with two outs, but BJ Boyd doubled in both runs. Matt Chapman singled to right but Boyd was held at third and Perdomo struck out Ryan Mathews to end the threat and keep the score 7-3 Chiefs.

   Beloit scored again in the sixth as Michael Soto led off with a double and Perdomo was replaced by Jhonny Polanco. After Pohl flew out to move Soto to third, Higley grounded out to second as Pohl scored for a 7-4 Chiefs advantage and end the scoring.

   Perdomo (3-4) pitched five-plus innings allowing four runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts to earn the win. Polanco tossed three perfect innings with five strikeouts. Kyle Barraclough pitched a scoreless ninth inning on one hit, a walk and three strikeouts to earn his seventh save.

Notes: Herrera's first home run came on June 14 against Clinton…Perez hit his third home run of the year…Perez' homer in the fourth is the 13th hit in that inning all season, which is the most in any frame by the team…McElroy had his first extra-base hit since July 29, also against Beloit…Herrera had the only multi-hit game for the Chiefs…Only Kelly and Pedroza did not have a hit though Kelly walked and Pedroza had a sac fly…Bean served as the DH for the first time since July 8 against Clinton…Kelly picked up his third sacrifice bunt…The Chiefs are 35-3 when scoring at least five runs…The Chiefs are 7-9 against Beloit with three games left in the season series…The Chiefs begin a three-game series with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Thursday at 6:30 p.m.…The Chiefs start LHP Rob Kaminsky (6-2, 1.83) against RHP Tristan Archer (6-5, 3.67) for Wisconsin…It's a Thirsty Thursday presented by Baumgarten Distributing Company with domestic draft beers and fountain drinks on sale for just $1…It's also Reality TV Night at Dozer Park…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 6:15 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.