By WJBC Staff
CLINTON, Iowa – The Peoria Chiefs received six shutout innings from starting pitcher Jack Flaherty and beat the Clinton LumberKings 3-0 Sunday afternoon. The win, their third in a row, moves the Chiefs to 10-8 in the second half and 43-43 overall.
The Chiefs grabbed the lead in the second inning against Clinton righty Tyler Herb. Luis Cruz singled up the middle with one out and moved to second as Jake Gronsky lined a single to left. After a flyout to right, Jhohan Acevedo put the Chiefs on top 1-0 with a single to left-center scoring Cruz.
In the third inning Oscar Mercado reached on an error at third base with one out. He moved to second as Harrison Bader singled to second. Mercado swiped third and scored as the throw went into left field for a 2-0 Chiefs lead.
Clinton only threatened against Jack Flaherty twice on the day. In the fourth inning he walked two and hit a batter to load the bases with one out. The Chiefs righty bounced back with a flyout and strikeout to end the frame. In the fifth a double with one out by Martin Peguero put a runner in scoring position but Flaherty struck out the next two to keep the Chiefs on top 2-0.
The Chiefs added on against Thyago Vieira in the eighth inning. Bader was hit by a pitch and stole second with one out before moving to third on a flyout to right. Cruz put the Chiefs up 3-0 with a sacrifice fly to deep center.
Flaherty (5-1) allowed four hits and walked two while striking out six over six innings. Dixon Llorens walked one and struck out three in two shutout and hitless innings. Kyle Grana allowed a hit in one shutout inning to earn his 10th save of the season.
