By WJBC Staff
BELOIT, Wisc. – The Peoria Chiefs tied the game in the seventh inning and took a lead in extras but lost to the Beloit Snappers 4-3 in 12 innings Tuesday night. The loss drops the Chiefs to 2-4 in the second half and 42-34 overall with two games left on the roadtrip.
The Chiefs took the lead in the fourth inning against All-Star Evan Manarino. Edmundo Sosa singled to center and moved to third when Eli Alvarez doubled off the wall in right-center. Brian O’Keefe grounded out to shortstop as Sosa scored for a 1-0 lead. Alvarez was picked off second base by Manarino before Chris Chinea singled to center. Manarino got Jose Godoy to groundout to second to end the inning with the Chiefs up 1-0.
Beloit responded immediately as Juan Perez struggled to throw strikes in the fourth inning. Justin Higley walked with one out and stole second base before Ryan Howell drew a walk. Edwin Diaz tied the game with a single to right as Howell took third. Diaz stole second and Howell scored on a sacrifice fly to center as Magneuris Sierra made a spectacular over the shoulder catch at the wall to rob Jordan Devencenzi of extra bases. Perez issued another walk to Mike Martin but got out of the inning with a flyout to right.
Peoria tied the game in the seventh inning. O’Keefe walked and Chinea doubled down the third base line to put two in scoring position. Godoy tied the game with a groundout to second base as Chinea advanced to third. Manarino kept the game tied as he struck out Vaughn Bryan looking and got Dylan Becker to groundout to first.
The Chiefs took the lead in the top of the 11th against reliever Armando Ruiz. Sierra led off with an infield single and moved to second on a sac bunt by Sosa. Beloit intentionally walked Alvarez and O’Keefe struck out swinging. Chinea put the Chiefs on top 3-2 with an automatic double to right that was out of the reach of a diving Brett Siddall and bounced over the fence. Beloit manager Fran Riordan was ejected from the game by home plate ump Ricardo Estrada after a lengthy argument as he claimed the ball was foul. With runners on second and third, Godoy popped up to end the inning.
Beloit started the bottom of the 11th with an infield single by Devencenzi against reliever Stephen De La Cruz. Mike Martin sacrificed and Trace Loehr tied the game with a double off the right-center wall. De La Cruz intentionally walked Trent Gilbert but struck out the next two batters to keep the game tied.
Beloit won the game in the 12th against Jorge Rodriguez. Higley led off with a double to shallow left and Howell drew an intentional walk. With one out Rodriguez hit Jose Chavez to load the bases. Peoria brought in an extra infielder but it didn’t matter as Martin lined a single to deep left for a 4-3 walk-off win.
Perez allowed two runs on three hits and six walks over 4 1/3 innings while striking out four in a no-decision. Gerwuins Velazco allowed two hits and one walk over 2 1/3 shutout innings while striking out one. Nick Frey allowed three hits over two shutout innings while striking out three. De La Cruz allowed one runs on two hits and a walk while striking out two over 2 1/3 innings. Rodriguez (1-1) took the loss as he allowed one run on two hits, a walk and a hit batter in 1/3 of an inning.
