By WJBC Staff
GENEVA – The Peoria Chiefs took a one-run lead into the bottom of the ninth but allowed two runs on three hits and a walk to lose 4-3 to the Kane County Cougars Sunday afternoon.
The loss gives the Chiefs a 33-35 record to end the first half heading into the All-Star Game which will be played at Dozer Park Tuesday night.
Kane County jumped on Chiefs starter Jhonny Polanco from the get-go as former Chiefs infielder Ildemaro Vargas homered to right-center on the first pitch in the bottom of the first. Vargas appeared to injure his leg rounding the bases and was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the second inning. With two down in the first Marty Herum and Colin Bray collected consecutive singles. Chuck Taylor put the Cougars on top 2-0 with a single to center as Herum scored.
The Chiefs came back in the top of the third against Cougars starter Brad Keller. Blake Drake was hit by a pitch with one out and stole second to get into scoring position. Darren Seferina got the Chiefs on the board with his fourth triple of the season, into the right-field corner, as Drake scored. The Chiefs tied the game on a sacrifice fly from Oscar Mercado but left Danny Diekroeger at second base after a double and a deep flyout.
The game stayed tied until the eighth. Drake led off with a single against Luis Ramirez and the Cougars brought Zach Curtis in out of the bullpen. Seferina tied a Chiefs single-game record with his second triple of the game as Drake scored for a 3-2 Chiefs lead. However the Chiefs left Seferina at third with two straight groundouts, a walk and a flyout. Peoria also left a runner at second base with one out in the ninth and did not add on to the 3-2 lead.
Kane County started the ninth inning with a walk and a fielders choice before Henry Castillo singled off Robby Rowland. Cody Regis doubled to left-center to tie the game as Castillo was thrown out in a rundown between third and home for the second out. With Regis at third base, Michael Perez grounded a single off the leg of Rowland as Regis scored to win the game for Kane County 4-3.
Making his first start of the season, Polanco allowed two runs on five hits over four innings while walking two and striking out five. Nick Lomascolo allowed one hit over 1 1/3 shutout innings. Dixon Llorens retired all four batters he faced on flyouts. Kyle Grana walked two over one shutout inning. Rowland (1-2) suffered the loss and his first blown save of the season allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over one inning of work while striking out one.
