The Peoria Chiefs fell 5-4 in 11 innings in the 2013 season opener Thursday night against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in front of 4,322 fans, the largest home opening crowd in Peoria since 1988. The Timber Rattlers were the first to score, platting two runs in the second inning against Chiefs starter Kurt Heyer. The Timber Rattlers led off the top of the third inning with three straight hits. The first from leadoff hitter Tyrone Taylor, and the second from Orlando Arcia on a double. Mitch Haniger brought in both Taylor and Arcia with a double for the 2-0 lead. Heyer made the opening night start and allowed two runs on four hits over three innings. He walked three and struck out three. Corey Baker threw two shutout innings with three strikeouts and one hit allowed. Jhonny Polanco allowed one run on three hits with a strikeout and a walk in two innings. Joseph Scanio allowed one unearned run on two hits with a strikeout in his three innings. Dixon Llorens (0-1) suffered the loss with one run allowed in one inning as he walked two.
-Bob
The Peoria Chiefs’ three-game winning streak ended when the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers scored three runs in the ninth inning to hand the Chiefs a 4-1 loss on Tuesday on Illini Night at O’Brien Field before 1,334 fans. The loss dampened a night that started with new Illinois men’s basketball coach John Groce throwing out a ceremonial first pitch. The Timber Rattlers had three straight singles to start the inning against Peoria reliever Justin Berg to break the tie. A second run scored on an error by Wes Darvill and Berg was lifted for Austin Reed. Click here for game stats.
-Bob
The Peoria Chiefs got out to an early 5-1 lead against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, but 11 unanswered runs for the Rattlers led to a 12-5 Chiefs’ loss on Tuesday. Peoria falls to 33-31 on the year and is now three games behind the Quad Cities Bandits in the Midwest League Wild Card race. Peoria DH Richard Jones hit a grand slam in the bottom of the third inning giving the Chiefs a 5-1 lead. The Timber Rattlers had 15 hits including two home runs. Graham Hicks took the loss for Peoria.
-Bob
