Chiefs blown out in road trip finale

PeoriaHat475x270
wjbc file photo

By Peoria Chiefs Information

Geneva, IL The Peoria Chiefs fell to the Kane County Cougars 10-0 on Thursday night to snap a season-best five-game win streak. The loss drops the Chiefs to 20-19 on the season but they still went 7-3 on a season-long 10-game road trip and return to Dozer Park for a seven-game homestand Friday night with Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta beginning a rehab stint.

The Chiefs loaded the bases in the top of the first inning against Joel Payamps on singles by Magneuris Sierra and Eli Alvarez sandwiched around a walk to Edmundo Sosa. But Brian O’Keefe struck out and R.J. Dennard hit into a 6-4-3 double play as the Chiefs came up empty in the inning.

Kane County took the lead immediately as Sierra dropped a line drive from Jason Morozowski for a three-base error. Former Chiefs infielder Robelys Reyes delivered a sacrifice fly to right for a 1-0 Cougars lead.

The Cougars extended the lead against Junior Fernandez in the third as Reyes beat out an infield single bobbled at shortstop and Zach Nehrir singled. Trevor Mitsui tripled for a 3-0 Cougars lead. In the fourth inning Sergio Alcantara singled with one out and scored on two wild pitches by Fernandez.

Kane County broke the game open in the fifth as they sent seven batters to the plate. Eduardo de Oleo led off with a single and with two outs Jose Queliz walked. Jordan DeLorenzo took over for Fernandez and surrendered a three-run home run to Alcantara as Kane County went on top 7-0. The Cougars added two more runs in the sixth inning on a double by Joe Munoz off DeLorenzo. The final run came in the bottom of the seventh as De Oleo singled home Reyes with Luke Harrison on the mound.

Fernandez (3-3) took the loss after allowing six runs, five earned, on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings. He walked three, struck out two and threw two wild pitches. DeLorenzo allowed three runs on four hits and a walk in 2/3 of an inning. Harrison allowed one run on one hit and one walk over 1 2/3 innings while striking out one. Jorge Rodriguez threw a shutout inning and allowed two singles while striking out one.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…