By WJBC Staff
GENEVA – The Peoria Chiefs lost a one-run game on an unearned run for the second night in a row in a 3-2 Sunday setback to the Kane County Cougars.
The loss drops the Chiefs to 41-28 in the second half and 74-63 overall with one game left in the regular season.
Kane County plated two runs in the second inning against Ian McKinney. A single, wild pitch, walk and another wild pitch put two on base with two outs. Victor Reyes doubled to left to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead. They added an unearned run in the third for a 3-0 advantage as Seferina committed an error at second base.
The Chiefs didn’t score until the sixth inning with a single, hit batter and walk loaded the bases with two outs. Nick Thompson walked on a full-count pitch to force home Harrison Bader and cut the Cougars lead to 3-1. Luis Cruz grounded out to second to end the threat with the Chief down two.
Derek Gibson got things going for the Chiefs in the seventh with a single and he moved to second on a balk by Jency Solis. Gibson moved to third on a groundout and scored on a single by Seferina to cut the Cougars lead to 3-2. However a double play ended the seventh and the Chiefs didn’t threaten again as five of the final six batters struck out.
McKinney (3-1) took the loss allowing three runs, two earned over 5 2/3 innings. The lefty struck out four, walked two and gave up six hits. Steve Sabatino allowed one hit and walked one over 1 1/3 shutout innings. Kyle Grana issued a walk in a hitless and shutout inning.
