Big innings cost Chiefs in home loss

Posted on August 3, 2016

By WJBC Staff

PEORIA – The Peoria Chiefs gave up two big innings and fell to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 6-5 Tuesday night. The loss drops the Chiefs back under .500 in the second half at 18-19 and they are now 58-49 on the season.

For the second night in a row the Rattlers scored multiple runs in the first inning. Troy Stokes led off with a single and was picked off first by Jake Woodford. Max McDowell was hit by a pitch and Isan Diaz crushed a two-run home run into the picnic tables in right field. The next batter, Lucas Erceg, also homered as he one-hopped the video board in right field for a 3-0 Rattlers lead.

The Chiefs got things going against Corbin Burnes in the third. Craig Aikin walked with one out and moved to third on two wild pitches as Jose Martinez struck out. Jose Godoy got the Chiefs on the board with a single to center and Brian O’Keefe was hit by a pitch. Chris Chinea doubled to left as Godoy scored but O’Keefe was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

With the Chiefs still down 3-2 in the sixth they loaded the bases on three straight one-out walks from reliever David Lucroy. Carlos Torres singled to center to bring home Leo Pina and Bladimil Franco for a 4-3 Chiefs lead. Quintin Torres-Costa came out of the Wisconsin pen and struck out Aikin before Martinez flew out to end the inning with two on.

Wisconsin’s Carlos Belonis singled with one out in the seventh against Luke Harrison and Stokes doubled to left. McDowell put Wisconsin on top for good with a double to right for a 5-4 lead. Diaz struck out but Erceg doubled to left-center for a 6-4 Rattlers lead.

The Chiefs went in order against Zach Brown in the seventh before Pina hit a solo home run, his fourth of the year, in the eighth. Martinez singled with one out in the ninth to put the tying run on base but Godoy grounded into the Chiefs third double play of the night to end the game.

Woodford allowed three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three over 5 1/3 innings. Harrison (3-2) took the loss as he allowed three runs on five hits over two innings while striking out two. Harrison left with an injury after throwing a pitch to Alan Sharkey with one out in the eighth and Stephen De La Cruz took over. De La Cruz allowed one hit and walked two while striking out one over 1 2/3 innings.

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