By WJBC Staff
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – The Peoria Chiefs committed four errors in the first two innings and got blown out 11-1 at West Michigan Wednesday night to start a nine-game road trip. The loss ends a three-game win streak and drops the Chiefs to 14-12 in the second half and 54-42 overall.
The Whitecaps took the lead in the second inning with a ton of help from the Chiefs defense. Jake Woodford started the inning by walking Will Allen and Dylan Tice committed an error on a potential double play ball hit to third by Brett Pirtle. Jose Azocar was safe on an infield single to third as Tice dove to keep the ball on the infield but had no play. Allen scored as the Chiefs got one out on a grounder by Leo Laffita and Pirtle came around to score as Edmundo Sosa threw wild to first tying to complete the double play. Magneuris Sierra slid late for a line drive off the bat of Franklin Navarro and the ball rolled to the center field wall for a RBI triple and a 3-0 Whitecaps lead. After a pop out, Navarro scored on a single by Derek Hill for a 4-0 lead. Hill stole second, his 28th steal of the season, and moved to third as the throw got away from Sosa for another error. David Gonzalez walked and Hill scored as Will Maddox lined a single off Woodford’s leg. Allen singled to load the bases and Pirtle gave the Whitecaps a 6-0 lead with a single to center before a flyout ended the inning.
West Michigan added to their lead in the fourth inning. Gonzalez singled to center and went to third on a single to right by Maddox. Woodford picked off Maddox for the first out but Gonzalez scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Allen for a 7-0 Whitecaps lead.
Luke Harrison took over for Woodford in the sixth inning and the hosts added on. With one out Hill walked and stole second before Gonzalez walked. Maddox singled home Hill for an 8-0 lead and Allen singled to left to load the bases. Harrison got out of the jam with a flyout and a strikeout.
West Michigan put the finishing touches on their blowout win in the seventh against Steven Gallardo. Laffita singled to center, Navarro singled to right and Cam Gibson unloaded on a three-run home run down the right field line for an 11-0 lead. The home runs was just the fourth the Whitecaps have hit in 45 home games this season and just their 17th overall.
The Chiefs avoided the shutout in the bottom of the eighth. RJ Dennard singled and Tice doubled to right-field as the ball bounced over the wall and into the party deck. Reliever Logan Longwith took over for starter Spenser Watkins who tied a career high in innings pitched. After a popout, Dennard scored on a groundout by Sierra to cut the lead to 11-1.
Woodford (4-4) allowed seven runs, three earned, on 10 hits over five innings. He walked two and did not record a strikeout in his longest outing since returning from the disabled list. Harrison allowed one run on two hits and two walks over one inning while striking out one. Gallardo allowed three runs on three hits over two innings while striking out two.
