Grand Chute, WI – The Peoria Chiefs offense broke out with a season high in both runs and hits on Sunday as they beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 9-2 to even the series and finish the road trip. The win moves the Chiefs to 5-5 on the season heading into a seven-game homestand that kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Monday against Clinton.
The game was scoreless after an inning when the Chiefs used a two-out rally against Wisconsin starter Jake Drossner to take the lead. Brian O’Keefe led off with a single and with two outs Vaughn Bryan singled to right. Craig Aikin put the Chiefs on top 2-0 with a double to center and Thomas Spitz added a RBI double for a 3-0 lead. Eli Alvarez extended the lead to 4-0 with a double of his own off the base of the center field wall.
With Junior Fernandez shutting down the Timber Rattlers bats, the Chiefs added on in the fourth inning to knock Drossner from the game. With one out, Aikin reached on an error by Drossner, Spitz singled to left and Alvarez walked to load the bases. Conor Harber replaced Drossner before Edmundo Sosa beat out an infield single for a 5-0 lead and Magneuris Sierra singled to left for a 6-0 Chiefs cushion.
The Chiefs added on in the fifth inning against Harber. Ryan McCarvel drew a lead off walk and Leo Pina followed with a walk. After a strikeout, Aikin drew a walk to loaded the bases and McCarvel scored on a groundout by Spitz. Alvarez delivered another double as Pina and Aikin both scored for a 9-0 Chiefs lead.
Fernandez (2-0) earned the win as he allowed just one run on five hits over seven innings while striking out three and walking three. Chandler Hawkins threw a shutout inning while allowing one hit and striking out two. Luke Harrison allowed one unearned run on two hits while striking out one in his lone inning of work.
Notes: Sosa singled to extend his hit streak to seven games…The Chiefs were 6-for-13 with runners in scoring position…Bryan has back-back-back multi-hit games…Aikin scored three runs, the most by any Chiefs player this season…The bottom third of the order (Bryan, Aikin, Spitz) went a combined 5-for-12 with six runs scored and four RBI…Alvarez had two doubles and is tied with R.J. Dennard for the team lead…Dennard got his first day off of the season…All nine Chiefs starters reached base via a hit or walk…Fernandez tied a career-high with seven innings pitched…The Chiefs return home for a seven-game homestand that starts Monday at 6:30 p.m. against the Clinton LumberKings…Monday is a Beer and Brats Monday with $3.00 craft beers and bratwursts…The Chiefs will start RH Brennan Leitao (0-1, 3.60) against Clinton RH Lukas Schiraldi (2-0, 0.90)…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 6:15 p.m., on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive which also has downloads for a free app on the iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Android. The broadcast is also available on the Peoria Chiefs Network in the Tune-In Radio App.
