Chiefs Win Wild One in Appleton

Site: Appleton, Wis. (Fox Cities Stadium)

Score: Peoria Chiefs 12, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 11

Records: Peoria Chiefs (10-16), Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (13-13)

Next Chiefs Game: Thursday, June 3 -- at Wisconsin (Appleton, Wis.), 7:05 p.m.

Appleton, Wis. -- In a game that took nearly four hours, the Chiefs pounded out 16 hits and held off the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 12-11 on Wednesday to even up the six-game series at a game a side.

The Chiefs threatened in the top of the first inning with the bases loaded but were unable to capitalize and take an early lead. Wisconsin got on the board first in the bottom half of the inning as Garrett Mitchell hit a three-run home run to center field, giving them a 3-0 lead.

Peoria responded in the top of the second as Zade Richardson and Matt Chamberlain reached base via a walk and hit-by-pitch. This setup Malcom Nunez to hit the Chiefs first triple of the season and cut into the Wisconsin lead.

Heads up baserunning from Francisco Hernandez tied the game in the top of the third as Chandler Redmond reached base via an infield single, which pulled the catcher away from home and allowed Hernandez to score from second.

The Timber Rattlers threatened to take the lead in the bottom of the third with the bases loaded and no one out. Michael YaSenka struck out consecutive batters before turning over the pitching duties to Cole Aker. Aker was able to get a fly out to Jhon Torres in right field to get out of the bases loaded jam and keep the game tied at three runs apiece.

The Chiefs took their first lead of the series on a double down the right field line from Nunez that turned into an inside-the-park home run. Chamberlain scored on the knock and a throwing error by right fielder Carlos Rodriguez allowed Torres and Nunez to scamper home, giving Peoria a 6-3 lead. Hernandez added another run in the inning with a deep fly ball to center field that drove in Brendan Donovan from second.

Wisconsin cut right back into the Chiefs lead in the bottom half of the fourth with a four-run inning capped off by an three-RBI double that cleared the bases and knotted the game at 7-7.

The high scoring affair continued as the Chiefs added two more runs in the next half inning. Tyler Reichenborn pinch hit for Malcom Nunez and was immediately able to make an impact on the game with an RBI single. Brendan Donovan added another RBI double to his line with an opposite field hit to left center field that scored Chamberlain from third.

The Chiefs offense broke the game open in the sixth. Chandler Redmond led off the inning with a single and then manufactured a run on his own, thanks to two wild pitches and a stolen base. With a 10-7 advantage, Matt Chamberlain hit his second home run of the season to push the Chiefs lead to 12-7.

From there, the Chiefs bullpen was able to hold off a Wisconsin rally. The Timber Rattlers scratched one run in their half of the sixth and salvaged two more in the seventh to make it 12-10.

In the eighth inning, the first two Timber Rattlers reached and Wisconsin had runners on the corners with no one out. After a passed ball made it 12-11, Leonardo Taveras retired the next three batters, which included a pair of strikeouts to end the inning.

In the ninth, David Hamilton reached with one out in the inning but Taveras earned his first save of the season by striking out Korry Howell and by getting Mitchell to pop out to Francisco Hernandez.

The Chiefs and Timber Rattlers will continue their series tomorrow, with first pitch slated for 7:05 p.m.

Single Game Ticket Information

June single game tickets are now on sale! Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and on Friday’s from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. The box office will be closed for lunch daily between 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Tickets for July, August and September will be available at a later time.

The Peoria Chiefs are locally owned and operated and play their games at Dozer Park. The Chiefs are a committed community asset and premier entertainment venue for families and individuals in Central Illinois.