Chiefs blow lead in ninth; fall 3-2
By: Michael Klos
Updated: May 27, 2012
WMBD/WYZZ-TV STAFF - PEORIA, IL - The Peoria Chiefs got another stellar start from pitcher Michael Jensen, but a blown save in the ninth led to a 3-2 loss against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Sunday at Peoria Chiefs Stadium. The loss puts the Chiefs at 22-28 on the year as they head into game three of the four game Monday afternoon at 2:00
The Chiefs got the scoring started. Zeke DeVoss led off with a double down the left field line. Taiwan Easterling laced a triple to right center field plating DeVoss and giving the Chiefs a 1-0 lead. But Wisconsin starter Will West struck out the next two batters and got a groundout to strand Easterling at third.
The Timber Rattlers evened the score in the top of the fourth against Jensen. Gregory Hopkins ripped a one-out double to left field that Pin-Chieh Chen bobbled, allowing Hopkins to scamper to third. With the infield in, Cameron Garfield blooped a single behind the second base bag allowing Hopkins the score tying the game at 1-1.
Easterling was at it again in the bottom of the fifth. The center-fielder utilized the gaps for the second time with a double off the wall in left-center field to get the inning started. An out later, Ryan Cuneo ripped a single to right plating Easterling and giving the Chiefs the lead back at 2-1.
Wisconsin refused to lay down in the final inning. Yao-Lin Wang came in for the save, and Max Walla reached on a one-out single down the left field line to put the tying run on. The next batter was Yadiel Rivera, who cranked a go-ahead homerun over the netting beyond the left-field wall, giving Wisconsin a late 3-2 lead. The Chiefs went in order against Wisconsin closer Seth Harvey in the bottom of the ninth.
Jensen went six innings, allowing one run on four hits with two walks and a career-high eight strikeouts. Sheldon McDonald replaced Jensen to start the seventh, throwing two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and a walk in the effort to get the hold. Wang (2-2) came in for the ninth, going one inning, allowing two runs on two hits, a walk, and a strikeout.
