By WJBC Staff
APPLETON, Wisc.- The Peoria Chiefs scored first but were ultimately beaten and swept by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 5-1 on Sunday afternoon. The loss, their sixth in a row, drops the Chiefs to 8-10 on the season.
The Chiefs jumped on lefty Zack Hirsch in the top of the first to take their first lead of the series. Andrew Sohn doubled to left-center with one out and easily scored when Danny Diekroeger singled to right for the 1-0 lead.
Wisconsin tied the game in the second against Matt Pearce. Sthervin Matos singled and stole second with one out. He went to third on a flyout and Monte Harrison was hit by a pitch. Elvis Rubio tied the game with a single to center, his second hit of the season.
The Rattlers took a lead in the fifth with a two-out rally. Greg Munoz walked and Brandon Diaz singled before Dustin Demuth put the Rattlers on top 2-1. Wisconsin added to the lead in the sixth when Harrison singled home Matos and then scored on a single by Luis Aviles for a 4-1 lead.
With one out in the seventh, Demuth lifted a foul fly ball down the left-field line. Sohn dove for the ball but it fell in foul territory and was called foul by the home plate ump. As Demuth rounded first the home plate ump changed his mind and called the ball fair. With Sohn and centerfielder Blake Drake having already stopped on the foul call, Demuth easily circled the bases for a 5-1 Wisconsin lead. Chiefs manager Joe Kruzel was ejected in the ensuing argument with both umpires.
Pearce (1-2) allowed four runs, three earned, on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out three while talking the loss. Nick Lomascolo allowed one run on two hits over 1 2/3 innings while striking out two. Jhonny Polanco struck out two in a perfect inning.
