By WJBC Staff
BURLINGTON, Iowa – The first half Western Division Champion Peoria Chiefs lost the longest game of the season in the second half opener 5-4 in 14 innings Thursday night to the Burlington Bees. The Chiefs also started the season with a loss in Burlington in April and are now 40-31 on the season, 0-1 in the second half.
The game was scoreless into the fourth before the Bees grabbed the lead against Peoria starter Juan Perez. With one down Jared Foster doubled to left-center and moved to third on a groundout. Ranyelmy Alberto doubled to center for a 1-0 lead and moved to third on an error by Magneuris Sierra. A wild pitch plated Alberto for a 2-0 Bees lead before Perez got out of the inning.
Burlington added on in the fifth against Perez. Michael Pierson singled with one out and was forced at second base. Jordan Serena stole second and scored on a double by Michael Hermosillo. With the Bees leading 3-0, Steven De La Cruz took over for Perez and got out of the inning.
Jordan Ruxer blanked the Chiefs for five innings before the visitors broke through against reliever Winston Lavandier in the sixth. Sierra was hit by a pitch and stole second before Lavendier retired two straight batters. Brian O’Keefe singled to left to bring home Sierra and cut the Bees lead to 3-1.
Eric Karch took over in the seventh for the Bees and RJ Dennard reached on an error to start the inning. Thomas Spitz singled and Leo Pina followed with a single to load the bases. Dylan Becker doubled down the right field line to tie the game 3-3. Sierra followed with a single to center to give the Chiefs a 4-3 lead. Sierra stole second and Burlington intentionally walked Eli Alvarez to loaded the base with one out. But Karch recovered to strikeout out O’Keefe and Chris China popped out to end the inning.
Both teams left runners on base in the eighth and the Bees tied the game bottom nine against reliever Tyler Bray. Jordan Walsh led off with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tanner Lubach. Michael Pierson singled to left and Walsh scored to tie the game 4-4. With two on base Hermosillo singled to left by Vaughn Bryan threw Pierson out at the plate to keep the game going. Bray intentionally walked Brendon Sanger to load the bases and Foster grounded out to send the game to extras.
Despite multiple chances, neither team broke through until the 14th. Alexis River led off with a pop up single to center off Harley Holt and with one out he stole second. Walsh walked and Lubach reached on catchers interference to load the bases. The Chiefs brought in a fifth infielder but Pierson delivered a walk off single to left to win the game 5-4.
Perez took a no-decision as he allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits over 4 2/3 innings. The right-hander walked one and struck out three in his second start of the season. De La Cruz allowed one hit and walked one in 1 1/3 shutout innings. Jorge Rodriguez allowed two hits and struck out two over 1 2/3 innings. Bray allowed one run on three hits over 1 1/3 innings with two walks and one strikeout. Luke Harrison allowed three hits over 2 1/3 shutout innings while walking one and striking out two. Holt (0-3) took the loss allowing one unearned run on three hits and a walk over two innings.
