By WJBC Staf
BELOIT, Wisc. – The Peoria Chiefs scored seven runs in the final five innings and notched another 11 hits to sweep the Beloit Snappers 7-1 on Thursday night. The win moves the Chiefs back to .500 on the season at 33-33 with three games left before the All-Star Break.
Chiefs hurler Jack Flaherty and Beloit All-Star Brett Graves traded shutout frames through the first four innings. Peoria struck first in the top of the fifth as Danny Diekroeger beat out an infield single and moved to second on a single by Alex DeLeon. Nick Thompson put the Chiefs on top 1-0 with a single to left before a double play ended the inning.
In the sixth the Chiefs added on and knocked Graves from the game. With one out Darren Seferina double to right and scored on a single to left by Vaughn Bryan for a 2-0 Chiefs lead. Bryan stole second and moved to third on a flyout before scoring on a wild pitch for a 3-0 lead.
Beloit barely threatened against Flaherty through the first five innings as they left just two runners in scoring position. In the sixth two of the first three Snappers singled before Flaherty struck out Jose Brizuela. Anderson Gerdel entered the game out of the bullpen and Max Kuhn singled home a run before Gerdel got out of the inning with the Chiefs up 3-1.
Peoria put the game away in the top of the eighth against Corey Miller. With one out pinch-hitter Ronald Castillo singled to right and Mercado drew a walk. Diekroeger ripped a triple to the right-field wall and circled the bases on a throwing error by Justin Higley for a 6-1 Chiefs lead. Peoria added a run in the ninth when Andrew Sohn doubled home Blake Drake for the 7-1 final margin.
Flaherty (2-1) allowed one run on six hits over 5 2/3 innings while walking one and striking out five. Gerdel earned a hold while allowing one hit and walking one over 1 1/3 shutout innings with a strikeout. Dixon Llorens retired all three batters he faced while striking out one. Kyle Grana allowed a hit in a scoreless ninth with one strikeout
