
By WJBC Staff
PEORIA – The Peoria Chiefs extended their win streak to three games with a 7-2 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Wednesday night as Edmundo Sosa homered and drove in four runs with four hits. The win moves the Chiefs to 28-24, a season-high four games over .500, and they go for the sweep Thursday.
Wisconsin opened the scoring in the top of the first against Chiefs starter Ryan Helsley. Blake Allemand doubled and scored on a one-out double by Isan Diaz but Thomas Spitz threw out Diaz at third base and Wisconsin eventually stranded two runners.
The Chiefs wasted no time in answering back against Wisconsin starter David Burkhalter. Magneuris Sierra led off with a single and Sosa blasted his second home run of the season in to the left-field berm for a 2-1 Chiefs lead. The home run was the first for the Chiefs at Dozer Park since Sosa homered off Wisconsin on April 23.
The Chiefs added to their lead in the bottom of the third. Vaughn Bryan doubled and moved to third on Sierra’s second single of the game. Sosa doubled to score Bryan and Sierra and the Chiefs took a 4-1 advantage.
Wisconsin cut the lead in half in the top of the sixth against Helsley. Jake Gatewood singled and with one out Monte Harrison singled putting runners at the corners. Alan Sharkey scored Gatewood on a sacrifice fly to center and the Timber Rattlers trailed 4-2.
The Chiefs put the game out of reach in the home half of the sixth. Sosa singled, Eli Alvarez drew a walk and both runners moved up a base on a deep fly out by Brian O’Keefe. Chris Chinea singled to center to score both runners and knock Burkhalter from the game with the Chiefs leading 6-2. Spitz greeted David Lucroy with a single and
Jose Godoy’s sacrifice fly put the Chiefs on top 7-2 as Chinea scored the final run of the game
Helsley (4-1) earned the win as he allowed two runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out eight. Brady Bowen allowed two hits over two shutout innings while striking out two. Harley Holt allowed two hits over one scoreless inning.