By WJBC Staff
CLINTON, Iowa – The Peoria Chiefs lost both games of a double header to the Clinton LumberKings 7-4 and 2-1 on Wednesday falling into second place, 1 ½ games behind Clinton. The Chiefs fall to 36-30 on the first half with four games to play as they lead the Cedar Rapids Kernels by 1 ½ games for the wild card.
The Chiefs took an early lead in game one when Brian O’Keefe led off the second inning with a solo home run off Nick Neidert. The home run, O’Keefe’s fourth of the season, gave the Chiefs a 1-0 lead.
Clinton tied the game against Derian Gonzalez in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Conner Hale reached on an error by Eli Alvarez and Logan Taylor drew a walk. With two outs, James Alfonso walked to load the bases and Rafael Fernandez walked to tie the game 1-1. Gonzalez left the game with an injury and Nick Frey got a flyout from Luis Liberato to end the inning.
Clinton took the lead in the fourth as Chiefs manager Joe Kruzel was ejected. Kruzel argued that a leadoff double down the left-field line by Taylor was foul. He stayed in the game but after a two-run double by Fernandez he came out to argue that Fernandez was out at third base and was tossed.
The LumberKings extended the lead in the fifth inning to knock out Frey. Dalton Kelly and Alex Jackson both singled before a sac bunt put runners at second and third with one out. Taylor singled home both runners for a 5-1 Clinton lead and with two outs Alfonso doubled home a run. Luke Harrison took over on the mound and a single from Fernandez gave Clinton a 7-1 lead.
The Chiefs rallied late with three runs over the final two innings. Edmundo Sosa doubled and scored on an Alvarez double in the sixth. Alvarez scored on a wild pitch by Neidert but the Chiefs left O’Keefe in scoring position down 7-3. Craig Aikin doubled off Joey Strain with one out in the seventh and he moved to third on a wild pitch. With two outs Magneuris Sierra singled home Aikin to cut the deficit to 7-4 but Sierra was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double to end the game.
Gonzalez allowed one unearned run and walked three in 1 2/3 hitless innings as he struck out one. Frey (1-2) took the loss allowing six runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out three over three innings. Harrison allowed one hit and struck out three over 1 1/3 shutout innings.
Game two was scoreless into the fifth inning as both teams dipped into the bullpen for spot starters. Chris Chinea led off the fifth with a single to center against Jeffeson Medina. Vaughn Bryan reached on a sacrifice bunt attempt as Medina kicked the ball for an error. With one out Matt Walker took over on the mound for Clinton and Aikin singled to right to load the bases. Sierra put the Chiefs on top 1-0 with a RBI groundout to second but the Chiefs left runners at second and third.
Down to their last at-bat Clinton rallied against Harley Holt in the seventh. Fernandez walked on five pitches and pinch-hitter Conner Hale singled to right to put runners on the corners. Liberato pinch-ran for Hale and Stephen De La Cruz took over on the mound for Holt. Braden Bishop chopped a single into left field to score Fernandez to tie the game 1-1. A double play moved the winning run to third with two outs and the Chiefs intentionally walked Kelly to face .170 hitting Alex Jackson. Jackson, the Mariners 2014 first round pick, made the Chiefs pay with a walk-off single to left for the 2-1 win.
Perez allowed four hits over five shutout innings while striking out six and walking one in his first start of the season. Holt (0-2) took the loss allowing two runs on three hits in a walk in one inning of work. De La Cruz allowed two hits and issued an intentional walk in 2/3 of an inning.
