Chiefs Outlast Snappers 14-10
Beloit, WI- The Peoria Chiefs scored six runs in the third inning and worked out of multiple jams to outlast the Beloit Snappers 14-10 in a three hour, 42 minute game Thursday afternoon. The win gives the Chiefs the series three games to one and they move to 16-9 on the season heading into a three-game weekend series at Cedar Rapids.
"All you're trying to ever do is win series and we were fortunate to do that on the road," said Chiefs manager Joe Kruzel. "We got guys on base and drove them in today and were fortunate to hang on at the end after getting the big cushion."
Beloit got off to an early lead against Chiefs lefty Jimmy Reed. Herschel Powell drew a leadoff walk and was out at second on a fielders' choice with B.J. Boyd beating out the double play at first. Jaycob Brugman singled up the middle and B.A. Vollmuth walked to load the bases. Tyler Marincov put the Snappers on top with an infield single on the left side that Juan Herrera fielded deep in the hole but he had no play. Michael Soto made it 2-0 with a single to shallow left before Reed got a groundout and strikeout to leave the bases loaded.
The Chiefs broke through in the third with help from the Snappers defense. C.J. McElroy Jr. bunted for a single to start the inning and he moved to third on a Jimmy Bosco single. Herrera was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Ronald Castillo collected RBI number 19 with a fielders' choice to third as McElroy scored. Steve Bean walked to load the bases and Vollmuth's fielding error at third base allowed Bosco and Castillo to score as the Chiefs took a 3-2 lead. Matthew Young launched the first pitch after the error off the scoreboard for a three-run home run and a 6-2 Chiefs lead.
Vollmuth hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third to cut the Chiefs lead to 6-3. Peoria added a run in the fifth against Ronald Herrera. Juan Herrera doubled to left and moved to third on a groundout. After Bean worked a walk, Valera put the Chiefs on top 7-3 with a sacrifice fly to deep right.
Beloit scored two in the bottom of the fifth to knock Reed out of the game. Vollmuth doubled and moved to third on a groundout by Marincov. Beloit cut the Chiefs lead to 7-4 as Soto singled to left. A wild pitch moved Soto to second and he scored on a wild pitch as Luis Baez struck out but reached first base. With the Chiefs up 7-5, Chase Brookshire took over on the mound for Reed and hit the first batter he faces. A strikeout and walk loaded the bases but Brookshire got a groundout to end the frame.
The Chiefs broke the game open in the sixth, again with help from the Beloit defense. Mason Katz and Jake Stone drew walks from reliever Lee Sosa. McElroy bunted and beat the throw to first while Katz and Stone both scored as the throw from Sosa went down the right-field line. McElroy moved to third on the throw and scored on a groundout by Herrera for a 10-5 Chiefs lead. The visitors added another run in the seventh off Sosa as McElroy's grounder to second base plated Katz.
The Chiefs plated three more in the ninth as Beloit moved outfielder Ryan Mathews to the mound in relief of Trevor Bayless. Mathews hit Herrera with the bases loaded and Castillo singled home a run. Bean's sacrifice fly plated another run for a 14-5 lead. Jhonny Polanco allowed five runs in the bottom of the ninth on three walks and two hits. Kyle Barraclough got the last two outs for the 14-10 win.
Reed allowed a career-high five runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked three while leaving with a 7-5 lead. Brookshire threw 2 2/3 shutout innings and did not allow a hit. He walked two, hit one and struck out three. Polanco allowed five runs on three hits and four walks over 1 1/3 innings with two strikeouts. Barraclough allowed one hit in 2/3 of an inning.
Notes: The Chiefs are 4-4 in the final game of a series this season, 2-2 on the road…A three hours, 42 minutes this game was the longest of the season for the Chiefs…The Chiefs tied a season-high with six runs in the third inning, the second time this series they scored six runs in the top of the third inning…The Chiefs wore their red batting practice tops in a game for the first time in 2014…With three hits Thursday, McElroy went 9-for-18 (.500) in the series with six runs scored, four RBI, two walks and a steal…The Chiefs set season-highs in runs (14) and walks (10) …Bean drew four of the walks, the most for a Chiefs player since Pin-Chieh Chen tied the franchise record with five walks June 2, 2012 at Kane County…The 14 runs are the most since the Chiefs scored 15, also at Kane County on June 2, 2012…Reed tied a career high set last July 17 with six strikeouts…He also tied a season and career high with three walks…The Chiefs have been outscored in the first inning 20-12 this season…The Chiefs now head to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to continue the seven-game road trip…The three-game series against the Kernels starts Friday at 6:35 p.m. as the Chiefs start RH Silfredo Garcia (1-2, 4.42) against Kernels RH Felix Jorge (2-1, 5.95)…The Chiefs swept Cedar Rapids in Peoria April 21-23…The Chiefs were 5-8 at Cedar Rapids in 2013 losing the final five matchups in Iowa…The Friday broadcast will begin with the pregame 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 and on the new MiLB Inside the Park app powered by Boomaphone.