One big inning hurts Chiefs in loss at Clinton

Posted on June 14, 2016

By WJBC Staff

CLINTON, Iowa – The Peoria Chiefs gave up five runs in the fifth inning and never recovered in a 9-2 loss to the Clinton LumberKings Monday night. With the loss the Chiefs drop to 36-28 on the season and they now lead Clinton by just ½ game with six games left in the first half.

Peoria jumped out to an early lead against Clinton starter Art Warren. Eli Alvarez singled with two outs in the first inning and came around to score on a double into the gap by Brian O’Keefe.

Both teams left the bases loaded in the third. The Chiefs got a two-out walk to Chris Chinea to load the bases after a sliding catch in center by Braden Bishop prevented at least one run from scoring. Warren got a groundout from Jose Godoy to end the inning. Clinton loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning but Junior Fernandez got a strikeout and flyout to preserve the 1-0 lead. Clinton loaded the bases again in the fourth but a fielders’ choice and a 6-3 double play got the Chiefs out of the inning again.

Clinton finally broke through in the fifth as they batted around. Luis Liberato singled to right and Rayder Ascanio walked. With one out Alex Jackson tied the game with a single to right and Connor Hale put the hosts on top 3-1 with a single to right. Fernandez walked Logan Taylor and with two outs the LumberKings took a 5-1 lead on a single by Rafael Fernandez.

The Chiefs responded immediately against Warren. O’Keefe singled to right as did Chris Chinea and the Chiefs loaded the bases when Godoy singled to right. Warren struck out Thomas Spitz for the first out and Craig Aikin cut the Clinton lead to 5-2 with a sacrifice fly to center as O’Keefe scored. With two on and two out, Warren struck out Vaughn Bryan to end the inning.

Clinton put the game out of reach in the sixth against Jorge Rodriguez. Liberato led off with a walk and Ascanio also received a free pass. Bishop’s fly ball to shallow center was lost in the lights and fell in for a run-scoring single. Jackson reached on an error by Alvarez on what could have been a double play ball, but Ascanio scored for a 7-2 Clinton lead. Hale ended Rodriguez’s night with a single to right that plated Bishop. With the Chiefs down 8-2, Tyler Bray struck out Taylor and got a double play to end the inning. Clinton scored the final run of the game, unearned, against Bray in the eighth for a 9-2 win.

Fernandez (5-4) took the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits over five innings while walking four and striking out three. Rodriguez did not record an out as he allowed three runs on two hits and two walks. Bray allowed an unearned run on one hit and two walks over three innings while striking out three.

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