By WJBC Staff
The Peoria Chiefs scored two runs early but couldn’t find a third run late and lost to the Great Lakes Loons 3-2 on a walk-off double Friday night. The loss gives the Loons a sweep of the series and sends the Chiefs to 26-29, a season-worst three games under .500.
The Chiefs got things going early as Darren Seferina singled on Tyler Oaks’ first pitch of the game. Seferina stole second and scored as Oscar Mercado singled to left for a 1-0 lead. Mercado moved to second on a ground out but was left in scoring position.
Great Lakes tied the game in the bottom of the first against All-Star Austin Gomber. With two down Alex Santana walked and scored on a double by Josmer Cordero.
The Chiefs regained the lead in the second inning. Adam Ehrlich singled to center and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Magneuris Sierra. Luis Cruz singled to center and Ehrlich scored on a fielders’ choice grounder off the bat of Andrew Sohn for a 2-1 lead.
The Loons tied the game in the fifth. Faustino Oguisten drew a lead-off walk and Kelvin Ramos singled to put runners on the corners. Johan Mieses delivered a sacrifice fly to center for a 2-2 score before Gomber escaped the inning.
Peoria had chances in each of the final five innings but left a runner in scoring position each time. In the eighth Mercado led off with a single against reliever Karch Kowalczyk. Mercado moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and stole third with one out. However a strikeout of Nick Thompson and a groundout by Vaughn Bryan ended the inning.
In the ninth Ehrlich led off with a single and moved to second on a sac bunt by Sierra. Kowalczyk struck out Cruz and Sohn grounded out to end the inning. The Loons won the game in three batters in the bottom of the ninth. Ramos walked against reliever Kyle Grana and Mieses singled to center. Michael Ahmed failed to get a bunt down on the first two strikes but lifted a double to the wall in right-center field to win the game 3-2 as Ramos scored without a throw.
Gomber allowed two runs on four hits while pitching into the sixth inning in a no-decision. He walked four and struck out four in his five innings of work. Jhonny Polanco allowed two hits and struck out one in two shutout innings. Tyler Bray allowed two hits and struck out one in one shutout innings. Grana (1-1) allowed one run on two hits and one walk while not recording an out.
