Chiefs claim 1st half West Division title

Posted on June 20, 2016

By WJBC Staff

PEORIA – The Peoria Chiefs finished the first half as the Western Division Champions with a 2-1 win over the Burlington Bees Sunday afternoon and a loss by the Clinton LumberKings. The Chiefs finish the first half at 40-30 and will have home field advantage in a playoff series for the first time since 2006.

Neither team scored over the first six innings. Chiefs starter Junior Fernandez had two on base against him in both the second and fifth innings but did not allow a run. The Chiefs put a runner in scoring position against Luis Pena in the second. Chris Chinea doubled to right but was left at second base after a flyout to shallow left and two strikeouts.

The Bees broke through against reliever Nick Frey in the top of the seventh. Ranyelmy Alberto reached on a single to left and he was sacrificed to second base. Alberto moved to third on a grounder and scored on a single by Webster Rivas for a 1-0 Bees lead.

Peoria immediately tied the game against Burlington reliever Tyler Watson. Eli Alvarez singled with one out and he scored on a two-out double to the center field wall by Jose Godoy. With the game tied 1-1, RJ Dennard walked but Thomas Spitz flew out to deep left to end the inning.

The Chiefs grabbed the lead with a two-out rally in the eighth. Watson hit Magneuris Sierra with a pitch and Sosa reached on an infield single. Alvarez delivered a flare into left-center to bring home Sierra for a 2-1 Chiefs lead. Frey retired the Bees in order in the ninth to end the game.

Fernandez threw six shutout innings as he allowed three hits, walked two and struck out four in a no-decision. Frey (2-2) earned the win with three innings in which he allowed one run on one hit and he struck out two.

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…