
By WJBC Staff
CLINTON, Iowa – The Peoria Chiefs left nine runs on base, allowed two solo home runs and scored one run for the third straight game in 2-1 loss to the Clinton LumberKings 5-1 Sunday afternoon. The loss drops the Chiefs to 26-29 in the second half and 66-59-1 overall.
The LumberKings jumped on top in the second inning against Chiefs starter Ronnie Williams. Logan Taylor led off with a solo home run, his eighth of the season, for a 1-0 lead. The next two LumberKings reached on a walk and single but Williams induced his second double play of the game to end the inning.
Peoria tied the game in the fourth inning against reliever Kyle Wilcox. Eli Alvarez was hit by a pitch with one out and he stole second base to get into scoring position. With two down, Jose Godoy singled to right field and Alvarez slid home safely to tie the game 1-1.
The Chiefs had many chances to take the lead after tying the game. Godoy was left at second on a strikeout by Carlos Torres in the fourth inning. RJ Dennard reached on a two-base throwing error by Wilcox to start the fifth but was stranded at third on a groundout to the mound and two strikeouts. Alvarez walked with one out in the sixth, stole second and stole third as Brian O’Keefe walked. Jake Brentz took over for Wilcox and kept the game tied as he struck out Godoy and Torres to end the inning.
Clinton didn’t need a hit with a runner in scoring position to regain the lead as Dalton Kelly launched a one-out solo home run in the sixth. The homer, his second in as many days, put Clinton on top 2-1.
The Chiefs loaded the bases but didn’t score in the seventh. Josh Swirchak walked with one out and Craig Aikin was hit by a pitch. After a pop up, Joey Strain took over on the mound for Brentz and walked Leo Pina to load the bases before striking out Alvarez to end the inning.
Williams (1-2) took the loss as he allowed two runs on four hits over six innings. He walked a career-high six, struck out seven and allowed two home runs. Steven De La Cruz struck out two over two perfect innings out of the bullpen.