The Peoria Chiefs carried a five-game overall win streak and a seven-game road win streak into Wisconsin Tuesday night but fell behind early and lost 8-3 to the Timber Rattlers. The loss drops the Chiefs to 21-11 in the second half and 54-46 overall through 100 games.
Wisconsin took advantage of some shaky Chiefs defense to grab the lead in the second inning. Elvis Rubio reached on a throwing error by Oscar Mercado to start the inning and Alan Sharkey singled. Luis Perdomo walked Shtervin Matos to load the bases and got Francisco Castillo to ground into a 3-2 fielder’s choice for the first out. However, catcher Brian O’Keefe’s return throw to first base to complete the double play sailed down the right field line as two Rattlers scored. Tucker Neuhaus completed the scoring for Wisconsin with a single to left to bring home Castillo.
Two innings later the Rattlers added on against Perdomo. Castillo drew a one-out walk and scored on a triple off the left-field wall by Neuhaus for a 4-0 lead. Mitch Meyer tripled down the right-field line to easily score Neuhaus for the 5-0 advantage.
Perdomo’s night ended in the fifth inning. Carlos Leal lead off with a single to center and Elvis Rubio launched a two-run homer to center field to give the hosts a 7-0 lead. Nick Lomascolo came out of the Chiefs bullpen and got through the next two innings.
The Chiefs got on the board in the seventh against reliever David Burkhalter. Jake Gronsky reached on a two-out infield single and Kenny Peoples-Walls drew a walk. Andrew Sohn hit a towering three-run homer down the left-field line, his third home run of the season and second in July. The blast cut the Rattlers lead to 7-3 but Rubio led off the bottom of the inning with his second homer of the inning to put Wisconsin up by five.
Perdomo (5-8) took the loss allowing seven runs, five earned, on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over 4 1/3 innings. Lomascolo allowed two hits and struck out one over 1 2/3 shutout innings. Cody Schumacher allowed one run on one hit while striking out three over two innings.
