Chiefs Win In Lansing Wednesday

Lansing, MI - The Peoria Chiefs gave up two runs in the ninth but held on for a series-opening 4-2 win over the Lansing Lugnuts Wednesday night. The win moves the Chiefs to 14-10 in the second half and 53-41 overall this season.

     Chiefs starter Alex Fagalde pitched out of a mini jam in the first to strand Lugnuts at first and second. Peoria's offense got to work against lefty Jordan Barrett in the third inning. Jose Martinez led off with a single to center and Andres Luna beat out a sacrifice bunt attempt on a fielders' choice. With one out, Rayder Ascanio singled to left and Elehuris Montero walked with the bases loaded to score Martinez. The Chiefs couldn't add on to the 1-0 lead as Dennis Ortega grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
    Fagalde cruised through the next two innings and the Chiefs added on in the fifth. Ascanio reached on an infield single with one out and stole second. Montero walked and Ortega put the Chiefs on top 3-0 with a double to the wall in right-center to score both runners. Zach Kirtley walked but JR Davis bounced into a 6-4-3 double play to end the frame.
    The Chiefs manufactured an insurance run in the ninth inning against reliever Matt Shannon. Lopez singled to right, stole second and moved to third on a ground out by Ascanio. Montero put the Chiefs on top 4-0 with a deep sacrifice fly to right field.
    The shutout ended in the ninth as Lansing rallied against Bryan Dobzanski. Reggie Pruitt walked, Ryan Gold was hit by a pitch and Jesus Navarro's single cut the Chiefs lead to 4-1. Dobzanski got Samad Taylor to hit into a double play before a wild pitch scored Gold for a 4-2 lead. Kevin Vicuña struck out to end the game with the Chiefs holding on to win.
    Fagalde allowed five hits over six shutout innings while walking three and striking out four. Robbie Gordon struck out three and walked one in two hitless and shutout innings. Dobzanski allowed two runs on one hit over one inning as he walked one, hit one and struck out one.
Notes… Ortega has a 10-game hit streak after picking up three hits and two RBI…He has 15 hits during the streak which is the Chiefs sixth hit streak to reach at least 10 games this season…Montero leads the Chiefs with 57 RBI and he has 18 RBI with the bases loaded this season…He now has 17 multi-RBI games…Fagalde leads the Chiefs with eight quality starts…The Chiefs are 7-3 in his 10 starts this season…Every Chiefs starter had at least one hit…The Chiefs are 48-8 when allowing four runs or less…The Chiefs are 19-12 in the first game of a series, 8-7 on the road…Ortega threw out a runner trying to steal and has caught 16 of 33 (.485) this season…Gordon has a hold in both of his outings…The series continues Thursday at 7:05 p.m. Eastern time…The Chiefs will start RH Angel Rondon (1-0, 1.17) against Lugnuts RH Maximo Castillo (7-4, 5.64)…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 5:50 p.m. Central time 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.