By WJBC Staff
CLINTON, Iowa – The Peoria Chiefs scored seven runs while taking advantage of three Clinton LumberKings errors, four wild pitches and seven walks to end a four-game losing streak with a 7-2 win Tuesday night. The win moves the Chiefs to 2-4 in the second half and 35-39 on the season with one game left in the series.
Chiefs starter Austin Gomber cruised through the first three innings with four strikeouts before the offense staked him to a three-run lead in the fourth. Danny Diekroeger’s second hit of the game was a lead-off single and Alex DeLeon put the Chiefs on top with a double to right-center. Steve Bean drew a walk from Zack Littell and Luis Cruz put the Chiefs on top 2-0 with a single to left. After a deep flyout to right, Hawtin Buchanan took over on the mound for Clinton and threw two wild pitches which allowed Bean to score for a 3-0 Chiefs lead.
Gomber kept Clinton off the board until the sixth inning. He had retired eight in a row before Chris Mariscal doubled to center with one out in the sixth. After strikeout number eight, Clinton got on the board as Patrick Leyland dribbled a single into right field to score Mariscal. Gomber got a groundout from Taylor Zeutenhorst to strand two LumberKings with the Chiefs leading 3-1.
The Chiefs extended the lead against reliever Jarrett Brown in the top of the seventh. Oscar Mercado bunted back to Brown and reached safely as the lefty bobbled the ball. Andrew Sohn walked and was safe at second as Mariscal booted a potential double play ball from Nick Thompson. With the bases loaded the Chiefs took a 4-1 lead when Diekroeger singled to shortstop and added another run on a deep sacrifice fly from DeLeon. With two down in the inning the Chiefs took a 6-1 lead when Cruz singled to left to bring in Thompson.
Clinton got a run back in the bottom of the seventh while ending Gomber’s night. James Alfonso led off with a single and Martin Peguero singled with one out. Cody Schumacher took over for Gomber and allowed a single to Gianfranco Wawoe to load the bases. With two outs, Chantz Mack drew a walk to force in Alfonso and cut the Chiefs lead to 6-2. Schumacher got Leyland to ground out to shortstop to end the inning with the bases loaded.
The Chiefs added to the lead in the eighth against reliever Nick Valenza. Jhohan Acevedo walked and Mercado singled before both runners moved up on a groundout. With two down Acevedo scored on a wild pitch as Diekroeger walked for a 7-2 Chiefs lead.
Gomber (7-3) allowed two runs on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings while tying a career-high with eight strikeouts. The lefty did not issue a walk while earning his sixth straight win. Schumacher allowed one hit and walked one while striking out four over 1 2/3 innings. Kyle Grana threw a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts and a walk.
