By WJBC Staff
PEORIA – The Peoria Chiefs scored three runs early and held on to beat the Kane County Cougars 4-3 as the visitors left the bases loaded to end the game Wednesday night.
The win moves the Chiefs to 23-22 on the season as Cardinals infielder Jhonny Peralta went hitless in his final rehab appearance.
Peralta played five innings at third base and made three plate appearances going 0-for-3 with a ground out to third in the first inning, a grounder to short in the third and a fly ball to center in the fifth. He did not have any balls hit his direction in the field.
Kane County took an early lead in the top of the second inning against Junior Fernandez. Joey Armstrong drew a lead-off walk and with one out Luis Veras singled. Josh Anderson was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Sergio Alcantara who drove in Armstrong with a sac fly to right for a 1-0 Cougars advantage.
The Chiefs offense wasted little time in answering back against Kane County starter Justin Donatella in their half of the second. Chris Chinea reached on a ground ball error to short and with one out Brian O’Keefe walked. RJ Dennard singled up the middle to score Chinea for his 18th RBI of the year to tie the game at 1-1.
In the bottom of the fourth Thomas Spitz walked with one out. O’Keefe doubled off the centerfield wall to score Spitz for a 3-1 lead and O’Keefe advanced to third on the throw home. Dennard hit a towering fly ball that appeared to leave the park to right field for a two-run homer but the ball was ruled in play and Dennard had to settle for a RBI double and a 3-1 Chiefs lead. Chiefs manager Joe Kruzel argued the call to no avail and Dennard was left on second base as the inning ended.
The Chiefs added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth against reliever Mason McCullough. Chinea doubled with one out and Craig Aikin pinch-ran at second base. Spitz singled home Aikin giving the Chiefs a 4-1 lead heading into the ninth inning.
The Cougars rallied in the ninth against Stephen De La Cruz. Joey Armstrong led off with a walk and Jose Queliz homered to cut the Chiefs lead to 4-3. Veras singled and with one out Alcantara singled knocking De La Cruz from the game. Tyler Bray entered and walked Jason Morozowski to load the bases. Galli Cribbs grounded into a fielders’ choice with Veras out at the plate and Bray struck out Zach Nehrir swinging to end the game with the bases loaded.
Fernandez (4-3) earned the win as he went 5 2/3 innings giving up one run on two hits while striking out six and walking four. Harley Holt retired the first six batters he faced before giving up a single in 2 1/3 innings of shutout baseball striking out one and walking none. De La Cruz pitched 1/3 of inning and allowed two runs on three hits while walking one, striking out one and allowing a home run. Bray retired both batters he faced in 2/3 of an inning with a strikeout for his second save of the season.
