Peoria, IL - The Peoria Chiefs lost the rubber match of their three game series with the West Michigan Whitecaps 3-0, in front of a sellout crowd of 7,073 on Wednesday afternoon. The Chiefs drop to 12-18 overall and will take on the South Bend Cubs on Thursday to start
Peoria, IL - The Peoria Chiefs lost the rubber match of their three game series with the West Michigan Whitecaps 3-0, in front of a sellout crowd of 7,073 on Wednesday afternoon. The Chiefs drop to 12-18 overall and will take on the South Bend Cubs on Thursday to start a three-game series at Dozer Park.
Tyler Lyons started the game for the Chiefs in a rehab appearance and West Michigan scored the first run in the second inning. Blaise Salter led off with a double to left field and scored when the next hitter, Josh Lester, doubled to right giving the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead. Lester advanced to third base on Danny Pinero's fly out to right field, and scored when Anthony Pereria grounded out to shortstop that staked West Michigan to a 2-0 advantage.
In the third inning Will Savage led off with a bunt base hit, and stole second with Cam Gibson at the plate. Savage moved to third during the same at-bat on a wild pitch before Lyons struck out Gibson for the second out of the inning. Spencer Trayner relieved Lyons, getting Cole Bauml to ground out to shortstop for the final out of the inning and left Savage stranded at third.
The Whitecaps struck again in the sixth when Gibson singled against Ian Oxnevad to start the inning. Gibson stole second and third before scoring when Salter grounded out for the second out, but the Whitecaps led 3-0.
The Chiefs best chance came in the ninth inning when J.R. Davis and Andrew Knizner each singled to put runners at first and second. Peoria was unable to capitalize, with Andrew Young striking out to end the game against Whitecaps closer Bryan Garcia.
Lyons (0-1) threw 2 2/3 innings in the loss in his rehab start, allowing two runs on four hits with a strikeout. Spencer Trayner faced one batter in 1/3 of an inning out of the bullpen. Oxnevad allowed a run and three hits in five innings pitched, striking out four and walking one. Ramon Santos pitched the ninth inning, allowing one hit.
Notes… Knizner extended his hit streak to seven games with his single in the ninth innings… Trosclair's eight game hit-streak came to an end… Today was Young's birthday… Lyons is the first Cardinals player to rehab in Peoria since Jhonny Peralta in 2016… Lyons is the first pitcher of record on a rehab assignment for the Chiefs since Jake Westbrook earned a win on June 9, 2013…The walk issued to Savage in the seventh inning by Oxnevad was the first in 16 1/3 innings… The Chiefs have played back-to-back nine inning games that were less than 2 ½ hours for the first time this season… The home stand continues Thursday at 6:30 p.m. with the series opener against the South Bend Cubs… There will be Fireworks following the game… It will also be Beer and Brat Thirsty Thursday presented by Brewers Distribution, where fans can get $2 12 oz domestic cans and sodas and $3 16 oz craft drafts, margaritas, and Brats… Thursday is Taco Bell Live Mas Thursday, where fans can present a Taco Bell receipt showing a purchase from the last seven days and receive a buy one get one free ticket (limit four tickets per transaction)… College students can purchase $5 field seats with a valid ID… The Chiefs will start Cardinals RH Steve Farinaro (1-1, 4.76) against Cubs LH Manuel Rondon (3-1, 4.81)… The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 6:15 p.m. Central 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.
