Clinton, IA – The Peoria Chiefs collected five runs on eight hits over the first four innings to beat the Clinton LumberKings 5-1 Saturday night. The win gives the Chiefs consecutive road wins and a second half record of 24-18, a half game out of the wild card spot.
Kramer Robertson led off the game with a single and moved to second on an errant pickoff throw by Clinton starter Danny Garcia. A day after setting a Midwest League record with 13 extra-base hits, the Chiefs picked up another as Brian O’Keefe doubled home Robertson with one out. Danny Hudzina drew a walk but Garcia escaped further damage with a strikeout and a foul pop up.
Leading 1-0 the Chiefs used a big inning in the third to pull away. Robertson got things started again with a double, his fourth in the last three games. He moved to third on a flyout before O’Keefe drew a walk. O’Keefe broke for second with Hudzina at the plate and as soon as Clinton’s catcher threw to second, Robertson raced home. Both runners were safe on the double steal for a 2-0 lead and O’Keefe went to third as the ball bounced into center field. With two down, Stefan Trosclair singled home O’Keefe for a 3-0 Chiefs lead and JR Davis singled to keep the inning alive. Juan Yepez walked to load the bases and Matt Fiedler singled home two runs to give the Chiefs a 5-0 lead.
Clinton got on the board against Evan Kruczynski in the fifth inning. Jhombeyker Morales singled to start the inning and Billy Cooke walked with one out. Luis Rengifo singled to load the bases and Morales scored on a groundout to cut the Chiefs lead to 5-1.
Kruczynski tied a career high with six innings of work. He allowed one run on four hits while walking three and striking out four. Bryan Dobzanski allowed one hit and struck out two over two shutout innings. Leland Tilley retired all three batters he faced in the ninth inning.
