Chiefs Beat Cougars Wednesday

Geneva, IL - The Peoria Chiefs collected 11 hits and handed the first-place Kane County Cougars a 6-3 defeat Wednesday night in the opening game of a three-game series. With a home run, two singles, three runs scored and a RBI, third baseman Imeldo Diaz was the Pekin Insurance Beyond the Expected Player of the Game.

     Facing Levi Kelly, the #8 Arizona prospect who had never lost as a professional, the Chiefs fell behind 1-0 in the first inning. Brendan Donovan led off the second with a single and Diaz singled with one out. Leandro Cedeno doubled home both runners to put the Chiefs on top 2-1 before Brandon Riley singled to put runners on the corners. Wadye Ynfante's infield single put the Chiefs on top 3-1 and Kelly tied his career high for runs allowed in a game, raising his ERA from 1.96 to 2.19.
     Facing reliever Andy Toelken, the Chiefs added on in the sixth. Diaz singled and Cedeno doubled him home for a 4-1 lead. In the seventh Jonatan Machado doubled and moved to third on a groundout. He scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Brady Whalen to put the Chiefs on top 5-1.
    Sebastian Tabata escaped a bases loaded jam in the sixth thanks to an interference call against the Cougars. Diaz added to the Chiefs lead in the seventh with a towering 397-foot home run down the left-field line, his second of the season for a 6-1 lead.
     Dalton Roach (1-1) picked up the win as he struck out five and allowed one run on four hits over five innings of work. Tabata walked three and allowed one hit over two shutout innings. Tony Locey allowed two runs on three hits while striking out three in his one inning of work. Connor Coward allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth to nail down his first Chiefs save.
     Game two of the series is Thursday night at 6:30. The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 6:15 p.m. on the Peoria Chiefs Tune-In Page, which is free and also has a free app for smartphones and tablets. The game is also available on MiLB.TV for subscribers.  
     Peoria returns home for a seven-game homestand starting with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Saturday, August 17. Individual game tickets, group tickets and season ticket packages, including full-season, a 35-game ticket package, an 18-game ticket package or a Flex Plan are currently on sale by calling 309-680-4000. Individual game tickets are also on sale with the Dozer Park Box Office open Monday - Friday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm and online at www.peoriachiefs.com which also lists all of the season's promotions. Game times and promotions are subject to change.