Chiefs win finale at Clinton

Posted on May 16, 2016

By WJBC Staff

CLINTON, Iowa – The Peoria Chiefs pounded out 15 hits and knocked off the first-place Clinton LumberKings 8-2 on Sunday afternoon. The Chiefs are back to .500 at 18-18 with their third straight win and fifth win in their last seven games.

The Chiefs left Magneuris Sierra at third base in the top of the first against starter Art Warren. The LumberKings came out swinging against Chiefs starter Derian Gonzalez. Braden Bishop singled and with one out went to third on a single by Dalton Kelly. Gonzalez walked Logan Taylor to load the bases and a walk to Chris Marsical scored Bishop for a 1-0 lead. Gonzalez bounced back to strike out Ricky Eusebio and Conner Hale flew out to end the inning.

Clinton changed pitchers in the second inning and the Chiefs greeted Jefferson Medina with five straight singles. Jose Godoy and Chris Chinea started the hit parade and the Chiefs tied the game on a single by Dylan Becker. Thomas Spitz put the Chiefs up 2-1 with a single and Craig Aikin’s hit loaded the bases. With one out, Edmundo Sosa grounded into a 3-2 fielders’ choice but a throwing error on catcher Arturo Nieto allowed Spitz to score for a 3-1 lead.

The Chiefs extended the lead against Matt Walker in the sixth inning. Godoy walked and moved up on a wild pitch. Becker’s single put the Chiefs up 4-1 before Dylan Silva came out of the bullpen with two on to get out of the inning.

Clinton got a run back in the sixth against Gonzalez. Taylor doubled to right with one out and scored on a two-out single by Eusebio. With the lead at 4-2, Gonzalez got Hale to line out to second with a runner left at second base to end the inning.

Peoria put the game away in the eighth inning against reliever Rohn Pierce. Becker led off with a single to left-center against the shift and Spitz followed with a single to right. Aikin tripled home both runners for a 6-2 lead and he scored on a single to center by Sierra for a 7-2 Chiefs lead.

The final run of the game came in the top of the ninth inning as Thomas Spitz launched a full-count pitch from Darrin Gilles into the left-field berm. The homer is the first as a professional for Spitz, coming in his 95th career game and 323rd at-bat.

Gonzalez (2-0) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three over six innings to earn the win. Juan Perez walked three and struck out four over three shutout and hitless innings for the save.

The Chiefs next game is Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Kane County.

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