By WJBC Staff
PEORIA – The Peoria Chiefs hit two home runs in a game for just the third time all season to beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 5-2 Sunday night. The win moves the Chiefs to 18-17 in the second half and 58-47 overall on the season.
Neither team scored until the fourth when the Timber Rattlers got on the board against Brennan Leitao. David Denson led off with a bunt single against the shift and moved to second on a wild pitch. After an error and a fielders’ choice, Brandon Diaz put the Rattlers on top 1-0 with a single to center.
The Chiefs bounced right back against Jordan Yamamoto in the bottom of the inning. Jose Martinez walked and with one out Brian O’Keefe launched his seventh home run of the season into the left-field berm for a 2-1 lead. Wisconsin tied the game in the sixth with a solo homer by Denson, his third against the Chiefs this season and 10th overall.
Peoria broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth. Magneuris Sierra led off with a double to left-center and moved to third on a groundout by Jose Godoy. O’Keefe put the Chiefs on top 3-2 as he beat out an infield single and Chris Chinea belted his fourth home run of the season for a 5-2 lead.
Wisconsin loaded the bases in the eighth on an error, single and a walk. But Steven Gallardo struck out the next three batters to keep the Chiefs on top 5-2.
Leitao (6-7) earned the win with six innings in which he allowed two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out four. Gallardo struck out four and walked two while allowing one hit over two shutout innings. Stephen De La Cruz retired all three batters he faced with two strikeouts to earn his sixth save.
