Chiefs Move into First Place with 5-2 Win

Posted on June 11, 2016

By Nathan Baliva

Peoria, IL – The Peoria Chiefs knocked off first-place Cedar Rapids 5-2 on Friday night and took over first place themselves with the win. The Chiefs are 34-27, a season-high seven games over .500, with nine games to play in the half.

Cedar Rapids broke the scoreless tie in the the fourth inning against Chiefs starter Sandy Alcantara. Sean Miller reached on an error, Lamonte Wade singled and Zander Wiel walked to load the bases. With one out, Nelson Molina hit a deep fly ball that Thomas Spitz tracked down at the wall in right. Spitz threw the ball to second base doubling off Wade, but Miller scored before the out was recorded and the Kernels took a 1-0 lead.

The Chiefs answered back in their half of the fourth against Kernels starter Cody Stashak. Edmundo Sosa beat out an infield single and Eli Alvarez walked. After a visit to the mound by the Kernels pitching coach, Brian O’Keefe doubled to the center field wall scoring Sosa and Alvarez for a 2-1 advantage. With two outs and O’Keefe on third base, Spitz singled for a 3-1 Chiefs lead.

Peoria put the game away in the bottom of the eighth inning against Cedar Rapids reliever Anthony McIver. With two outs O’Keefe delivered his second double of the game and Chris Chinea crushed his second round tripper of the season giving the Chiefs a 5-1 lead.

The Kernels got a run in the top of the ninth against Chiefs reliever Nick Frey. Molina singled and advanced to third on an error by Edmundo Sosa that placed runners on the corners. Molina scored on a fielders’ choice that cut the lead 5-2.

Alcantara (5-4) got the win pitching seven innings allowing one run on six hits while striking out nine and walking two. Frey picked up his first save of the season pitching two innings and allowing one run on one hit while striking out one and walking one.

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