Chiefs take advantage of five errors to beat Cougars

Posted on July 6, 2016

By WJBC Staff

PEORIA – The Peoria Chiefs rallied past the Kane County Cougars for the second games in a row with a 7-5 win Tuesday night. The win moves the Chiefs to 6-7 in the second half and 46-37 overall.

The Cougars jumped on the Chiefs in the first inning with three runs off starter Brennan Leitao. Colin Bray walked and Fernery Ozuna singled before a double steal. Joe Munoz singled to center for a 2-0 lead and he advanced to second on the throw home. Munoz moved to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a double play ball for a 3-0 Cougars lead.

The Chiefs got on the board in the third inning as RJ Dennard slugged a solo home run to right field off Junior Garcia. The homer, Dennard’s third of the season, cut the Cougars lead to 3-1 but the Chiefs left the bases loaded to end the inning.

Kane County added a run in the fourth inning as Austin Byler tripled and scored on a single by Trevor Mitsui. The Cougars loaded the bases but Leitao escaped the inning with the Chiefs down 4-1.

Peoria took the lead for good with some help from the Cougars defense in the bottom of the inning. With two outs and a runner on first base, Bladimil Franco reached on an error at first base and Craig Aikin singled. Magneuris Sierra singled home two runs and that’s when the Cougars defense fell apart. Bray fielded the single in center and his throw to third was wild allowing Aikin to score. As Aikin ran home, Munoz threw to the plate and the catcher attempted to throw out Sierra at third but fired the ball into left field. Sierra, who singled to start the play, came around to score as the Chiefs scored four runs on the play with two Cougars errors.

The Chiefs added on in the fifth as Kane County made their fifth error of the night. Brian O’Keefe reached on an error by shortstop Galli Cribbs and moved to second on a wild pitch. Jose Godoy walked and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Dennard singled to right-center to score both runners for a 7-4 Chiefs lead. Kane County grabbed the final run of the game with a solo home run from Joey Armstrong in the ninth.

Leitao (5-7) earned the win as he allowed four runs on eight hits over six innings while striking out five and walking one. Gerwuins Velazco struck out one and allowed one hit over two shutout innings. Luke Harrison earned the save as he allowed one run on one hits over one inning while striking out three.

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…