By WJBC Staff
Burlington, Iowa – The Peoria Chiefs left nine runners on base and fell to the Burlington Bees 3-2 in the season opener Thursday night.
Burlington broke the tie with a run in the bottom of the eighth to send the Chiefs to 0-1 in the opener of the two-game series.
The game was tied into the bottom of the third before Burlington put two runners on against Chiefs starter Jake Woodford. A sacrifice bunt put both runners in scoring position and Michael Pierson’s single to right put the Bees on top 2-0.
Woodford retired the next 11 Bees he faced and Burlington’s defense helped the Chiefs tie the game in the fifth. RJ Dennard led off with a double off the wall in right-center, the Chiefs first hit of the night. With one out, Craig Aikin reached on an error by shortstop Juan Moreno. Dennard scored on a pickoff throw error by Bees starter Joe Gatto as Aikin moved to second. A wild pitch moved Aikin to third and Thomas Spitz tied the game with a sacrifice fly to right. Another walk and a second Moreno error loaded the bases by Magneuris Sierra flew out to end the inning.
The Chiefs loaded the bases again in the sixth inning as Brian O’Keefe walked and Dennard doubled. Winston Lavendier retired the next two batters before Leobaldo Pina walked to loaded the bases. Lavendier got out of the threat as Spitz struck out.
The game remained tied into the eighth inning when Burlington put two on base with one out against reliever Steve Gallardo. Steven De La Cruz came out of the bullpen but Brandon Sanger’s single to center put the Bees on top 3-2.
Peoria rallied in the ninth against Aaron Hofacket. Pina drew his third walk of the game with one out and gave way to pinch runner Casey Turgeon. With two down, Eli Alvarez doubled to left field to move the tying run to third and the go-ahead run to second. But Hofacket struck out Edmundo Sosa looking to end the game.
Woodford threw a career-high six innings in a no-decision. He struck out two and walked two while allowing two runs on two hits. Gallardo (0-1) took the loss in his first outing since June 29, 2012. He allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out two over 1 1/3 innings. De La Cruz allowed one hit and struck out one in 2/3 of an inning.
