Chiefs fall Thursday

Peoria, IL - The Peoria Chiefs had their chances but dropped a 6-1 decision to the Lake County Captains on Thursday night as the Captains clinched the three-game series. The Chiefs are now 10-9 in the second half and 49-40 overall with the series finale set for 7:00 p.m. on Friday.

    A couple unearned runs helped the Captains take an early lead in the top of the first against Chiefs starter Alex Fagalde. Leadoff man Todd Isaacs reached on a fielding error by third baseman Elehuris Montero. Nolan Jones drew a two-out walk and Jose Vicente drove in both runners with a triple for a 2-0 advantage.
    The Captains doubled their lead in the top of the fourth. Will Benson drew a leadoff walk, stole second base with one down and Joshua Rolette hit a ground rule double to score him as Lake County led 3-0. Jesse Berardi lined a single to center that plated Rolette for 4-0 lead.
    Two more runs came across for Lake County in the top of the seventh against reliever Kodi Whitley. Berardi worked a leadoff walk then stole second base and a throwing error by catcher Alexis Wilson moved Berardi to third. Isaacs drove in Berardi on a single to give the Captains a 5-0 advantage. Elvis Perez reached on a fielder's choice as Irving Lopez threw the ball away from second base allowing Isaacs to advance to third. With runners at the corners, Oscar Gonzalez brought in Isaacs on a sacrifice fly to center widening the margin to 6-0.
    The Chiefs, who left the bases loaded in the fifth and hit into two earlier double plays, finally got on the board in the seventh against Lake County starter Jean Carlos Mejía. Wood Myers led off with a single and JR Davis lined a two-out double over Isaacs' head in right center to put Peoria on the board trailing 6-1.
    Fagalde (4-3) took the loss allowing four runs, two earned on four hits over five innings with three walks and five strikeouts. Whitley pitched two innings allowing two runs, one earned on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts. CJ Saylor threw two scoreless innings allowing two hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
Notes… Fagalde tied his career high in walks with three and walked more than one batter in an inning for the first time this season…The Chiefs have been outscored 73-36 in the first inning…Lake County scored 11 unanswered runs dating back to the top of the fifth inning during game one until Peoria scored in the bottom of the seventh…Lopez had his five-game hit streak end…Gonzalez recorded his 25^th multi-hit game of the season…The Chiefs hit into two more double plays and lead the league in double plays hit into with 88…The series concludes at 7:00 p.m. Friday with post-game fireworks as the Chiefs start RH Angel Rondon (0-0, 0.00) against Lake County LH Kirk McCarty (2-8, 4.83)…The first 1,000 fans through the gates ages 13 and up receive a Carson Kelly bobble head…Friday is Harry Potter Night as the Chiefs will wear special Harry Potter themed jerseys that will be auctioned off during the game to benefit the Police Athletic League…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 6:45 p.m. on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive and is also available on the Peoria Chiefs Network on the Tune-In Radio App…The game is also available to subscribers on MiLB.TV.