By WJBC Staff
PEORIA – The Peoria Chiefs lead 7-3 with two outs in the top of the ninth inning but allowed seven unanswered runs and lost 10-7 in 10 innings Tuesday night to the Clinton LumberKings. With the loss the Chiefs are 6-6 on the season and will face the LumberKings in the third game of the series Wednesday with first pitch at 11 am.
The Chiefs fell behind early for the second straight night as the LumberKings scored two runs against Chiefs starter Derian Gonzalez. With a one-out double and a walk, Clinton put two on base and singles by Ricky Eusebio and Braden Bishop gave the visitors a 2-0 lead.
The Chiefs tied the score in the in the bottom of the third against LumberKings starter Zack Littell. With one out, Craig Aikin singled and Vaughn Bryan walked. Eli Alvarez singled home Aikin to get the Chiefs on the board and Bryan scored on a two-out double by Magneuris Sierra to tie the game.
The Chiefs and LumberKings traded runs in the fifth. Clinton got a leadoff walk from Rayder Ascanio, who moved to second on a sac bunt and scored on a single by James Alfonso for a 3-2 lead. The Chiefs answered in the bottom of the inning. Bryan drew a one-out walk, advanced on a sharp ground ball out by Alvarez and Casey Turgeon delivered a two-out single to tie the game.
The game was still tied 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth when Turgeon drew a walk from Dylan Silva. Turgeon moved to second on a sacrifice and Chris Chinea greeted new pitcher Joey Strain by singling to left. RJ Dennard doubled to left to put the Chiefs on top 4-3 before Jose Godoy was walked intentionally. Leo Pina delivered a sac fly for a 5-3 lead and Aikin singled home Dennard for a 6-3 lead. The Chiefs added one more run on a base hit by Bryan to take a 7-3 lead into the ninth.
Clinton rallied in the ninth against Steven De La Cruz. Luis Liberato led off with a walk and with two outs Dalton Kelly reached on an infield single before Logan Taylor walked to load the bases. Tyler Bray took over for De La Cruz and Chris Mariscal doubled to left to cut the lead to 7-5. Eusebio singled to center to tie the game before Bray got out of the inning.
The Chiefs went in order in the bottom of the ninth and Clinton took the lead in the top of the 10th. Ascanio singled to center and moved to third on sac bunt and an error by Godoy. Clinton took the lead on a sac fly by Alfonso and went on top 10-7 on another two-run double by Mariscal. The Chiefs went in order in the bottom of the 10th falling 10-7.
Gonzalez allowed three runs on eight hits over five innings, while walking two and striking out four. Sasha Keubel allowed two hits over two shutout innings. De La Cruz allowed three runs on one hit and four walks over 1 2/3 innings. Bray (0-2) allowed four runs on five hits and one walk in 1 1/3 innings while taking the loss.
