Knizner Walks Off Snappers in 15th

Peoria, IL - Andrew Knizner launched three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the 15^th inning as the Peoria Chiefs defeated the Beloit Snappers in game one of four at Dozer Park on Thursday. The Chiefs improve to 14-24 overall and will play game two on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
    The game was scoreless until the bottom of the eighth inning when Vince Jackson led off with a triple to right field off Snappers reliever Matt Milburn. Jose Martinez made it a 1-0 game when he hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Jackson.

    Luke Persico tripled against Eric Carter in the ninth to put the tying run on for Beloit. Carter intentionally walked pinch-hitter Nate Mondou to put runners at the corners and got Luis Barrera to pop-out for the second out of the inning. JaVon Shelby tied the game with a single to drive in Persico before Carter walked Edwin Diaz to load the bases and got Jason Goldstein to ground out to end the inning.
    The game stayed tied until the 15^th as both teams had chances to go ahead. In the 15^th, Nick Plummer walked with one out for the Chiefs against Yordys Alejo, and Tommy Edman was intentionally walked to put runners at first and second. Knizner homered to left field to give the Chiefs their third walk off win of the season by a score of 4-1. The homer was Knizner's seventh of the season which leads the team.
    Starter John Kilichowski went 5 1/3 innings in the no decision without allowing a run while giving up four hits, walking six and striking out five. Austin Sexton allowed two hits over 2 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen with four strikeouts. Carter blew a save and allowed a run on two hits over his inning of work with two walks and a strikeout. Brady Bowen went three shutout innings with one hit allowed and three strikeouts. Max Almonte (1-0) earned his first win of the season while going three shutout innings, allowing one hit, a walk, and four strikeouts.
Notes… Tonight's 15 innings are the most played by the Chiefs in a game this season and the most since a 15-inning tie at West Michigan on July 22, 2016…Knizner extended his hit streak to a team-high 14-games and has a team best 16-game on-base streak…The walk-off home run was the first for the Chiefs since Mason Katz beat Clinton on June 15, 2014 in the 10^th… Kilichowski set a career high with six walks…Tonight's game was the second time this season the Chiefs took a shutout into the ninth inning, the other was on opening night when they gave up two runs in the ninth…Tonight was the first time the Chiefs both issued and received the new no-pitch intentional walk rule…The last time the Chiefs played extra innings was on April 27 against Cedar Rapids in a loss…Tonight was the fourth extra-inning game the Chiefs have played this season and they are 2-2…Beloit left 18 runners on base as they were 1-for-15 with a runner in scoring position…Tonight was the first time Almonte and Martinez played at Dozer Park this season… Beloit turned three double plays in the game, the most by a Chiefs opponent this season… Tonight's game is tied for the third longest game by inning in Dozer Park history behind a 17-inning game in 2008 and a 16-inning game in 2015…The Chiefs continue their four-game series against the Beloit Snappers with a 6:30 p.m. Friday start… Friday the first 1,000 fans in attendance (13 & up) will receive a D.J. LeMahieu Bobblehead presented by Ballpark Buns… There will be post-game Fireworks… Friday will also be an Ameren Illinois Education Night and a Faith & Family Night… The Chiefs will start RH Bryan Dobzanski (0-3, 5.33) against Snappers LH Dalton Sawyer (3-2, 1.85)…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 6:15 p.m. 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.