PEORIA- The Peoria Chiefs got seven hits on Friday but failed to score in a 3-0 loss to the Lansing Lugnuts in the 1000th game scheduled at Dozer Park since it opened in 2002. The loss drops the Chiefs to 11-11 in the second half and 51-41 overall as they won the series and now get ready to host Great Lakes.
After being held hitless in game two of Thursday’s double header the Chiefs finally got a hit in the third inning when Bladimil Franco singled to end a 9 1/3 inning drought. He was left at second after a stolen base as the next two Chiefs struck out swinging.
The game was scoreless into the seventh as Chiefs starter Juan Perez and Lugnuts starter Angel Perdomo matched zeroes on the scoreboard. Lansing stranded two runners in the second and sixth innings while the Chiefs left two runners on base in both the fifth and sixth innings.
Lansing broke through in the seventh as the Chiefs stuck with Perez. Justin Atkinson singled to left and scored on a triple to right by Conor Panas. Carl Wise clobbered his third home run of the season into the left-field berm for a 3-0 Lugnuts lead. The Chiefs went to the bullpen and got three straight outs from Nick Frey.
The 3-0 lead held up for Lansing as two relievers prevented the Chiefs from getting a runner past first base over the last three innings. Dylan Becker hit into a double play with nobody out in the seventh and the game ended with a runner on first on a flyout to center.
Perez (3-2) took the loss as he allowed three runs on six hits and a walk over six innings while striking out six. Frey allowed two hits and struck out three over two shutout innings. Steven Gallardo allowed a walk and struck out two in one shutout inning.
