Peoria Il – The Peoria Chiefs allowed a pair of two-run home runs and lost game two of their three-game series against the Bowling Green Hot Rods 4-2 on Tuesday night. The loss drops the Chiefs to 10-15 on the season heading into the series finale Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.
After leaving the bases loaded in the first inning, the Chiefs sent seven hitters to the plate in the top of the second against Hot Rods starter Roel Ramirez. With one out Dylan Becker singled to get the offense going and Leobaldo Pina entered the game as a pinch runner. With two outs, Eli Alvarez hit his second double of the night to score Pina for a 1-0 lead. Edmundo Sosa followed with a single that plated Alvarez for a 2-0 lead but the Chiefs left two more runners on base.
The Chiefs loaded the bases in the fifth inning on a double by Brian O’Keefe and two walks. However they could not add on to the lead as Ramirez got Pina to fly out and end the threat.
Bowling Green took advantage in the sixth inning against Chiefs starter Jake Woodford. With the Chiefs still up 2-0, Woodford walked the lead-off batter Kevin Padlo and Michael Russell homered to left to tie the game at 2-2.
The Chiefs put two on in the sixth but could not regain the lead against reliever Taylor Hawkins. Bowling Green broke the tie in the top of the sixth inning when shortstop Jake Cronenworth drew a one out walk from Chiefs reliever Juan Perez. Padlo crushed his third home run of the season, completely out of Dozer Park, to give the Hot Rods a 4-2 lead.
Peoria had two late chances to get even but could not score against the Hot Rods bullpen. In the eighth, Alvarez singled with two outs and moved to third on a double by Sosa. However Magneuris Sierra grounded out to end the threat. In the ninth, RJ Dennard walked with one out and moved to second on a ground out. Chris Chinea, celebrating his 22nd birthday, pinch-hit as the tying run but struck out swinging to end the game.
Woodford allowed two runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings while walking three and striking out seven in the no-decision. Perez (0-1) allowed two runs on one hit and two walks over 2/3 of an inning in his Chiefs debut. Chandler Hawkins allowed two hits and walked two over 1 2/3 shutout innings with a strikeout. Stephen De La Cruz threw 1 1/3 perfect innings with two strikeouts.
Notes: Starting pitchers have gone at least five innings in all 26 games…Dennard drew three walks and was hit by a pitch…Alvarez had his first 3-hit game of the season and tied a Chiefs season high with two doubles…Sierra had his team-leading 10th multi-hit game…The Chiefs had not allowed a home run at home since April 12 against Quad Cities…Thomas Spitz had his second outfield assist as he threw out Padlo at the plate in the first inning…The Chiefs are 4-for-29 with the bases loaded this season…Peoria left a season-high 14 runners on base going 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position…The rubber match of the three-game series is Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. as the Chiefs start RH Sandy Alcantara (3-0, 2.86) against Hot Rods RH Henry Centeno (2-0, 0.78)…Wednesday is a KidsActOnEnergy.com Kids Education Day and a Hebrew National Dollar Wins Day with $1.00 hot dogs, sodas and ice cream sandwiches…If the Chiefs win fans can exchange their ticket for any future Monday through Wednesday regular season home game…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 10:45 a.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.
