WJBC Staff
CLINTON, Iowa – The Peoria Chiefs rallied twice to tie the game but couldn’t overcome three late runs in a 5-4 loss to the Clinton LumberKings on Thursday night. The loss drops the Chiefs to 15-18 on the season and 2-2 on a season-long 10-game road trip.
Clinton jumped on Chiefs starting pitcher Ryan Helsley in the bottom of the first inning as Braden Bishop doubled and Rayder Ascanio beat out a bunt single to put runners on the corners. Dalton Kelly’s single put Clinton top 1-0 before Helsley got two strikeouts and escaped the inning.
The Chiefs tied the game without a hit in the top of the third against Kyle Wilcox. Craig Aikin walked to start the inning and moved to second base on a wild pitch. Aikin moved to third on another wild pitch before Thomas Spitz was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base. A third wild pitch scored Aikin but the Chiefs left Spitz at second base with the game tied 1-1.
Clinton came right back in the bottom of the third inning as Ricky Eusebio drove home Ascanio for a 2-1 lead. R.J. Dennard walked in the fourth for the Chiefs and Chris Chinea singled to put two runners on base. Dennard moved to third on a fielders’ choice off the bat of Dylan Becker and scored on another wild pitch to tie the game 2-2.
The game stayed tied as both teams went to the bullpen in the sixth inning. Chiefs righty Harley Holt made his 2016 debut and retired the first two batters before Clinton first baseman Connor Hale hit his first professional home run for a 3-2 lead. In the seventh an error by Leo Pina at shortstop allowed Rafael Fernandez to reach base and he moved to second on a groundout. Ascanio’s third hit of the game scored Fernandez for a 4-2 Clinton lead. Holt gave way to Juan Perez after a double by Kelly and Perez intentionally walked Logan Taylor to load the bases. Eusebio singled home Ascanio for a 5-2 lead before a double play ended the inning.
The Chiefs rallied again in the eighth against lefty Dayan Silva. Spitz walked with one out before Eli Alvarez flew out down the right-field line. Brian O’Keefe launched a two-run home run on the first pitch of his at-bat over the high center field fence to cut the Chiefs deficit to 5-4. Silva struck out Dennard to end the eighth and Darrin Gilles retired the Chiefs in order in the ninth to preserve the win.
Helsley allowed two runs on a career-high eight hits over five innings. He did not issue a walk and he struck out seven. Holt (0-1) took the loss in his Chiefs debut allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits over 1 1/3 innings. Juan Perez allowed one hit and one walk over 1 2/3 shutout innings while striking out two.
