Clinton, IA– The Peoria Chiefs scored early and often to defeat the Clinton LumberKings 7-1 in the rubber game on Sunday afternoon. The Chiefs are now 32-25 and move into a tie for first place in the Western Division with Quad Cities with a league wide off day on Monday.
The Chiefs got on the board first in the top of the second inning against LumberKings starter Ray Kerr. Julio Rodriguez chopped a two-out double down the third base line and JR Davis singled to put runners at the corners. Both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch and Matt Fiedler delivered a two-run single to center as Rodriguez and Davis scored for a 2-0 lead.
The LumberKings used the longball for their first hit and first run of the game on Chiefs starter Alex Fagalde in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Billy Cooke connected on a solo homer to left as the deficit was cut in half 2-1.
Peoria manufactured a run in the top of the fourth inning. Zach Kirtley was hit by a pitch and Rodriguez reached base on a fielding error by second baseman Joseph Rosa as Kirtley advanced to third. JR Davis grounded into a double play but Kirtley scored to put the Chiefs back up by a couple of runs 3-1.
Back-to-back jacks extended the lead in the top of the sixth against LumberKings reliever Matt Clancy. Davis smashed a solo homer to lead off the inning and Fiedler followed suit with a solo home run of his own for a 5-1 advantage.
The Chiefs tacked on two more in the top of the eighth against LumberKings reliever Collin Kober. Davis and Fiedler both singled with nobody out to start the inning. Both runners moved up into scoring position and ground out. Hurst delivered a two-run single to left with two-outs scoring David and Fiedler as the margin increased to 7-1.
Fagalde (1-1) earned the win throwing 7 2/3 innings allowing one run on two hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts. Thomas St. Clair pitched the remaining 1 1/3 innings without allowing a run on no hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
Notes… Fagalde struck out a career high 10 batters in a career high 7 2/3 innings… Kirtley has a six-game hit streak…Fiedler’s four hit game is the first since Irving Lopez on April 28 at Wisconsin… Chiefs are 5-3 on Sunday…. Peoria is 13-15 on the road…The Chiefs are 9-4 in day games…Peoria 17-7 when scoring first… The Chiefs are 7-5 wearing throwback baby blue uniforms… Peoria is 22-7 when scoring five runs or more…Monday is a league wide off day…Peoria travels to Kane County for a three-game series beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday… The Chiefs will start RH Evan Guillory (5-3, 2.74) (0-1, 2.12) against Kane County RH Jhoan Duran (2-0, 2.33)…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 6:15 p.m. on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive and is also available on the Peoria Chiefs Network on the Tune-In Radio App.
