Chiefs Shutout Lansing 2-0 Sunday
April 22, 2012 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Peoria, IL - The Peoria Chiefs took advantage of a dominant pitching performance by starter PJ Francescon with a 2-0 victory Sunday over the Lansing Lugnuts at Peoria Chiefs Stadium. The win puts Peoria at 7-10 on the year and snaps a four game losing streak as they play game two of the series Monday night at 6:30.
The scoring finally got underway in the bottom of the sixth. Zeke DeVoss singled and advanced to second on an error by left fielder Chris Hawkins. Oliver Zapata worked a walk to put two on for Ryan Cuneo, who loaded the bases with a line-drive single to right. With Paul Hoilman up, reliever Kramer Champlin bounced a pitch that rolled behind home plate allowing DeVoss to score. With the score 1-0 and two men in scoring position, Hoilman and Taylor Davis went down on strikes before Taiwan Easterling picked a good time for his first RBI, lacing a single to left giving Peoria a 2-0 advantage.
A one walk by Jon Berti brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth for the Lugnuts. Closer Jeff Lorick bounced back with a force out at second for out number two. Carlos Lopez doubled down the left field line putting runners on second and third for Kevin Pillar. Lorick secured his second save of the season by striking out Pillar to end the Chiefs losing streak.
PJ Francescon (1-1) turned in a career-high seven innings, allowing just one hit, with one walk and five strikeouts. Andrew McKirahan replaced Francescon in the eighth, pitching one inning, walking one and striking out two. Lorick came in for the save in the ninth, converting the opportunity with one inning, allowing one hit, walking one and striking out two.
Casey's General Store Player of the Game - PJ Francescon (SP) - Francescon turned in the first quality start by a Chiefs pitcher not named Michael Jensen Sunday earning his first win of the season. The right-hander went a career-high seven innings, allowing just one hit, walking one and striking out five.
Notes: The shutout was the first of the season for the Chiefs...The game lasted a season-low two hours and seven minutes...Oliver Zapata's first inning single extends his hitting streak to a team-high eight games...Hoilman also extended his hitting streak to seven games Sunday...The 2-0 lead for the Chiefs was their largest since Monday, against Cedar Rapids (6-1)...The seven innings pitched was a career-high for Francescon...Sunday gave the Chiefs consecutive seven inning outings by a starting pitcher...Francescon is the first Chiefs pitcher besides Michael Jensen to turn in a quality start this season...The one hit Francescon allowed through his seven innings was the fewest allowed by a Chiefs starter this year...Lorick is yet to give up a run through eight innings of work this season...Lorick's save was the first recorded since April 11 for the Chiefs...The Chiefs tied a season-low surrendering only two hits in the ballgame...Easterling's sixth inning RBI single snapped a personal 0-for-9 streak with runners in scoring position...The RBI was also Easterling's first of the season...In his fifth start, Sunday's ballgame was the first game Taylor Davis was held without a hit...Sunday's game snapped a streak of four straight games with an error for Peoria...Peoria is a perfect 2-0 on SundaysGame two of the series will be Monday night at 6:30...Monday is another half-price ticket Monday at Peoria Chiefs Stadium with $5 club seats and $3.50 for the Hy-Vee lawn...The Chiefs will send RH Jose Rosario (1-2, 5.40) to the mound against RH Marcus Walden (0-0, 3.07)...The broadcast can be heard, starting with the pre-game show at 6:15 p.m. on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive which also has downloads for a free app on the iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Android.
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