Chiefs Fall in Extras Monday

The Peoria Chiefs suffered a rare loss on a blown save Monday night and fell in Clinton 4-3 in 11 innings. The loss puts the Chiefs at 61-44 for the season, 22-13 in the second half with one game left in the series.

  In the first big moment of the game, the Chiefs took a 2-0 lead in the third inning against Clinton starter Ryne Inman. Elehuris Montero, who doubled in the first inning, singled to left in the third frame. Yariel Gonzalez launched a home run for the third straight game for a 2-0 lead as his 10^th homer of the season traveled 421 feet to right field.
     Clinton tied the game with help from a Chiefs error in the bottom of the inning. Angel Rondon allowed a single before an error by Rayder Ascanio put two runners on base. A single to right by Joe Rosa scored the first run and a groundout to second base tied the game.
     The second big moment of the game came when the Chiefs took the lead in an unconventional manner in the fourth. With runners on the corners and two outs, Luken Baker took ball one inside from Inman. Catcher Jose Camacho threw the ball back to Inman and the pitcher dropped it toward first base as Ascanio alertly sprinted home to score the go-ahead run.
     The game stayed 3-2 thanks to another big moment from the Chiefs on defense. Clinton put runners on first and third with one out in the eighth against reliever Robbie Gordon. Eugene Helder hit a fly ball to left and Rosa tagged but was thrown out at the plate by Brandon Benson to end the inning and keep the Chiefs on top 3-2. The dramatic play was for naught though as Clinton tied the game against Fabian Blanco in the ninth with a single and a one-out triple.
    Neither team scored in the 10^th despite having runners in scoring position and the Chiefs left the bases loaded in the 11^th. Clinton won the game against reliever CJ Saylor in the bottom of the inning. Helder started the frame at second and with one out he scored on a single by Dimas Ojeda.
    Rondon delivered another quality start as he struck out seven, walked two and allowed one earned run on five hits over six innings. Robbie Gordon picked up a hold with two shutout frames. Blanco suffered his fourth blown save with one run allowed on two hits in one inning. Saylor (0-2) took the loss despite not allowing an earned run as he yielded three hits in 1 1/3 innings.
Notes… Montero doubled in the first inning for his fifth straight double and seventh extra-base hit of the series…He has three straight multi-hit games…Gonzalez, named the MWL Player of the Week earlier in the day, has a nine-game hit streak and a three-game home run streak, one off the Chiefs franchise record…Gonzalez and Montero are a combined 14-for-28 (.500) in the series with four homers, six doubles, 10 RBI, 12 runs scored, two walks and a hit by pitch…Gonzalez struck out for the first time in 39 at-bats…When Montero and Gonzalez both struck out in the seventh inning it marked the first time they have both been retired in the same inning since Thursday, having batted in the same inning 15 times in that span…Gonzalez has 10 homers, four behind Montero for the team lead…He is also second on the team with 59 RBI…Myers has two straight two-hit games…The Chiefs have 11 doubles and five homers in the three game series…Peoria leads the MWL in team batting at .275 and are third with 194 doubles…The Chiefs are 52-2 when leading after eight innings…Rondon has three quality starts in four outings with the Chiefs…He has 18 strikeouts in his last two starts…The Chiefs starting pitcher has gone at least five innings in 18 straight games…The series concludes Tuesday as the Chiefs start RH Paul Balestrieri (7-4, 3.93) against Clinton RH Clay Chandler (6-2, 3.60)…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 1:45 p.m. on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive and is also available on the Peoria Chiefs Network on the Tune-In Radio App.