Peoria, IL – The Peoria Chiefs defeated the Clinton LumberKings 11-3 in game one of a three game series Monday night at Dozer Park. The victory improves the Chiefs to 6-5 on the season, with six games left on the homestand.
Trailing 1-0 the Chiefs bats came alive in the fifth inning against Clinton starter Lukas Schiraldi. Jose Godoy led of with a walk, Craig Aikin drew a one out walk and with two outs, Casey Turgeon walked to load the bases. Edmundo Sosa who had not hit with runners in scoring positon and two outs all season, delivered a two-RBI single into right field, scoring Godoy and Aikin for a 2-1 lead. Turgeon scored from third on a wild pitch to push the lead to 3-1.
The Chiefs continued their strong hitting in the sixth as they sent eight hitters to the plate. With one out RJ Dennard walked and ended the night for Schiraldi. Nick Kiel came out of the bullpen and Godoy singled before Leobaldo Pina delivered a two-RBI double to left. Aikin singled moving Pina to third and a Thomas Spitz sac fly made it 6-1. Turgeon singled home Aikin for a 7-1 lead before Clinton got out of the inning.
Peoria added their final runs of the game in the eighth inning against Spencer Herrmann and Matt Walker. With one out Turgeon walked and with two outs a triple by Magnueris Sierra gave the Chiefs an 8-1 lead. Sierra scored on a double by Brian O’Keefe before a walk and single loaded the bases. Pina walked against Walker for a 10-1 lead and Dennard scored on an error for an 11-1 Chiefs lead. Clinton scored two runs in the ninth to finish off the final score.
Chiefs starter Brennan Leitao (1-1) earned the win in his second start of the season. He threw a career-high seven innings and allowed one run on four hits while striking out seven. Steve Gallardo threw a shutout inning as he struck out one. Landon Beck allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits in the ninth as he struck out two.
Notes: Sosa has a season-high eight-game hit streak…Godoy has hit safely in all six games in which he has started…The Chiefs are 5-1 when Godoy starts behind the plate…The Chiefs matched the season high with 12 hits and set new season highs in runs (11) and walks (7)…Sierra had three triples for the Chiefs last season before getting his first of 2016…O’Keefe and Pina were the last two Chiefs players to get RBI on the season…Four Chiefs hitters had two hits…Pina drove in a season-high three while Sosa drove in two…The Chiefs were 5-for-17 with runners in scoring position…Schiraldi had been 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA on the season…This was the first of 16 matchups between the Chiefs and Clinton in 2016…Chiefs starting pitchers have gone at least seven innings in two straight games…Peoria pitchers did not issue a walk…The three-game series continues at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday with a Thanks For Your Service Tuesday in which Military Veterans and First Responders can purchase $6.00 tickets…The Chiefs will start RH Derian Gonzalez (0-0, 1.80) against Clinton RH Zack Littell (0-1, 5.40)…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 6:15p.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.
