By WJBC Staff
BURLINGTON, Iowa – The Peoria Chiefs scored in each of the first three innings Thursday night to beat the Burlington Bees 6-4 and take the series. The win moves the Chiefs to 33-27 on the season, just a half game behind the Cedar Rapids Kernels who they host Friday night.
The Chiefs wasted little time in getting on the board against Burlington starter Jaime Barria. Edmundo Sosa singled with one out in the first inning and scored on a triple to left-center by Eli Alvarez. Brian O’Keefe reached on an error at second base and was credited with a RBI as Alvarez scored on the play for a 2-0 lead.
Peoria added on in the second inning thanks to the Bees defense. Vaughn Bryan singled with two outs and Magneuris Sierra singled to right. Bryan came all the way around for a 3-0 lead as Michael Hermosillo bobble the ball in right for a two-base error.
Burlington caught up in the third inning against Chiefs starter Derian Gonzalez. After a 6-4-3 double play, Hermosillo singled to left and Webster Rivas delivered a RBI double to center. Jake Yacinich singled home Rivas for a 3-2 Chiefs lead and Jared Foster tied the game with a double to left.
The game wasn’t tied for long as the Chiefs went right back to work in the third. O’Keefe doubled to left-center after Alvarez was caught stealing second. RJ Dennard singled to right to put runners on the corner and he moved to second on a wild pitch. Jose Godoy singled up the middle to score both O’Keefe and Dennard for a 5-3 Chiefs lead.
Peoria added on in the sixth against reliever Winston Lavendier. Thomas Spitz singled with one out and Dylan Becker drew a walk. Bryan hit a fly ball to right-center which was caught by Hermosillo but he collided with Foster and fell down allowing Spitz to score all the way from second on a sacrifice fly. Sosa singled to left with two outs but Becker was thrown out at the plate to end the inning with the Chiefs on top 6-3.
Burlington didn’t go quietly against Jorge Rodriguez in the ninth. Foster tripled on a two-out full count pitch to keep the game alive. Sanger cut the Chiefs lead to 6-4 before Tyler Bray came out of the bullpen to replace Rodriguez. Bray got Jared Walsh to flyout to center to end the game.
Gonzalez allowed three runs on a career-high 10 hits over five innings. He struck out two, walked three and threw a wild pitch. Harley Holt allowed two hits over two shutout innings while striking out one. Rodriguez allowed one run on three hits over 1 2/3 innings as he struck out one. Bray retired the only batter he faced for his third save.
