By WJBC Staff
CLINTON, IA – The Peoria Chiefs lost a 4-0 lead late but rallied to beat the Clinton LumberKings 7-4 in 15 innings Saturday night with catcher Luis Cruz earning the win on the mound. The win moves the Chiefs to 9-8 in the second half and 42-43 overall on the season.
Clinton loaded the bases against Austin Gomber in the second inning with an error, single and a walk. The Chiefs lefty responded by striking out the next three LumberKings to escape the threat and keep the game scoreless.
In the third inning the Chiefs grabbed the lead against Zack Littell. Steve Bean led off with a triple to center but was thrown out at the plate on a grounder to third off the bat of Jake Gronsky. Gronsky moved to second as Jhohan Acevedo reached on a grounder off the pitcher’s leg. Darren Seferina put the Chiefs on top 1-0 with a double off the right-field wall as Gronsky scored. Acevedo was tagged out at the plate on a fielder’s choice grounder from Paul DeJong and the Chiefs settled for a 1-0 lead after three.
In the fifth the Chiefs added on against Littell. Acevedo singled with one out and Seferina walked before both runners moved up on a groundout. Oscar Mercado’s single to right field plated both runners for a 3-0 lead. In the sixth Nick Thompson reached on an infield single and scored on a double by Bean for a 4-0 lead before Littell gave way to the Clinton bullpen.
Gomber struck out the side again in the fifth to establish a new career high with 10 strikeouts. He started the sixth inning and got the first two outs before walking Joe DeCarlo on a full-count pitch. Cody Schumacher came in out of the bullpen and gave up a single to Kristian Brito and a two-run double to James Alfonso. He retired Gianfranco Wawoe to end the inning with the Chiefs on top 4-2.
Clinton tied the game against Schumacher in the eighth. Martin Peguero singled with one out and DeCarlo homered off the scoreboard in left-center to tie the game 4-4. Kristian Brito and James Alfonso followed with singles to put runners on the corners. Nick Lomascolo took over on the mound for Schumacher and got the final two outs of the inning to keep the game tied.
The game stayed tied until the 15th as Clinton left nine runners on base between the ninth and 14th innings. Alex DeLeon led off the 15th by reaching on a dropped third strike and Bean singled with one out. Jake Gronsky tripled off Hawtin Buchanan for a 6-4 lead and Seferina singled home another run. With the Chiefs up 7-4, Clinton put shortstop Chris Mariscal on the mound and he got the final out.
Gomber struck out 10 and walked three while allowing one run on three hits over 5 2/3 innings in the no-decision. Schumacher allowed three runs on six hits over 1 2/3 innings while striking out two. Lomascolo allowed three hits and issued two intentional walks while striking out three over 2 2/3 shutout innings. Kevin Alexander allowed three hits and walked one while striking out three over three shutout innings. Cruz (1-0) retired all six batters he faced to get the victory.
