PEORIA, IL - The Peoria Chiefs took an early 4-0 lead over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on a cool and windy Wednesday at Dozer Park. The Rattlers scratched closer and had the tying runs on base in the ninth, but eventually fell 4-2 to Peoria.The Chiefs (3-4) struck first with
PEORIA, IL - The Peoria Chiefs took an early 4-0 lead over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on a cool and windy Wednesday at Dozer Park. The Rattlers scratched closer and had the tying runs on base in the ninth, but eventually fell 4-2 to Peoria.
The Chiefs (3-4) struck first with two runs in the first inning. Three of the first batters of the opening inning reached on singles. Leandro Cedeno drove in two with a single and Peoria was up 2-0.
Wisconsin starting pitcher Wilfred Salaman settled down after that initial inning. Salaman retired the last two batters he faced in the first, worked a scoreless second, and retired the first two batters he saw in the third. But, Zach Jackson kept the third going with a double. Wadye Ynfante cashed in Jackson with a single. Then, a balk by Salaman allowed Ynfante to take second base. Delvin Perez made Wisconsin pay for the balk with a single to get Ynfante home and the Chiefs lead moved to 4-0.
For the second game in a row, the Rattlers (4-3) could not solve the Peoria starting pitcher. On Tuesday, Tommy Parsons tossed eight scoreless innings and allowed just four hits. On Wednesday, Alvaro Seijas pitched six scoreless innings, allowed four hits, and struck out six.
Wisconsin got on the scoreboard in the eighth inning against the Peoria bullpen. Antonio Piñero started the inning with a double and stole third. Yeison Coca got Piñero home with a single.
The Rattlers got a rally going in the top of the ninth inning. Jevon Ward walked and took second on a wild pitch. Brent Díaz singled to put runners on the corners. Then, pinch-hitter David Fry singled and Ward scored to cut the Peoria lead to 4-2.
Edgar Escobar was called in from the Chiefs bullpen with the tying runs on base and the lead run at the plate. Escobar closed the game by getting Piñero to ground into a 6-3 double play.
The loss was the second in a row for Wisconsin.
The final game of the four-game series is set for Thursday night at Dozer Park. Reese Olson (0-0, 0.00) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Jacob Schlesener (0-1, 32.40) is set to start for the Chiefs. Game time is 6:35pm. The broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM and the TuneIn Radio app starting with the Papa John's Pizza Pregame Show at 6:15pm. The game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.tv.
