Peoria, IL-The Peoria Chiefs came from behind to complete a series sweep over the Beloit Snappers 5-3 Thursday night. The win improves Peoria to 34-18 in the second half and 67-53 overall and lowers their magic number to clinch a playoff spot to six with three games left on the current homestand.
The Chiefs scored first in the first inning against Snappers starter Junior Mendez. With one out Oscar Mercado walked and stole second. Mercado advanced to third on an infield single by Paul DeJong. DeJong stole second and Alex DeLeon walked to load the bases. Mercado scored on a sacrifice fly by Harrison Bader for the 1-0 lead.
Beloit took their first lead of the series with a pair of runs in the top of the third against Chiefs starter Ian McKinney. Jose Brizuela led off with a single and scored on a double by Mikey White to tie it 1-1. White went to third on the play after a Chiefs error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Justin Higley for the 2-1 Beloit lead.
The Snappers added to their lead in the fourth. Sandber Pimentel and Argenis Raga opened the inning with back-to-back singles and both advanced 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt by Gabriel Santana. Pimentel scored on a sacrifice fly by Tim Proudfoot for make it 3-1.
The Chiefs took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth. Jake Gronsky led off with a walk and advanced to third on a double by Darren Seferina. Both men scored when Paul DeJong knocked a home run over the left field wall for the 4-3 lead.
The Chiefs added an insurance run in the seventh against Snappers reliever Jonnie Massad. Seferina led off with a double and went to third on a single by DeJong. Seferina scored on a sacrifice fly by DeLeon to push the Chiefs lead to 5-3.
McKinney (2-0) won his second straight start with 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on 10 hits, striking out five without issuing a walk. Nick Frey pitched 1 1/3 shutout innings, allowing one hit and one walk, striking out one. Kyle Grana came in to work a scoreless ninth for his team-leading 19th save of the season, allowing one hit and striking out one.
