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Baseball Wed Jul 07 2010
Chiefs Tame Cougars; Win 5-2
With the Chicago Cubs out of town the Peoria Chiefs took up residency at Wrigley Field Wednesday night for the third annual Road to Wrigley game. The Chiefs took on the Kane County Cougars. The Cougars took an early lead in the third on an RBI single by Tyreace House. The Chiefs would answer right back in their half of third with an RBI single from Mario Mercedes.
Peoria would break the 1-1 tie on a Jae-Hoon Ha three-run homer (3) in the fourth. Kane County would score in the sixth on an RBI double by Mike Gilmartin. The Chiefs would add one more on an RBI single by DJ Fitzgerald in the eighth and that would be all they needed to secure a victory. Their win tonight ended a four-game losing streak which made for a happy manager afterwards.
"It's a great win. It's experience and the atmosphere at the start make the game so much worth it," said Chiefs Manager Casey Kopitzke. "To be able to win is the icing on the cake."
Peoria starter Robert Whitenack created a few jams in his five innings of work, but somehow managed to find a way out of them. Whitenack gave up just four hits, struck out four, walked two and only allowed one run.
"I was just trying to execute my pitches," said Whitenack.
Credit Chiefs closer Jordan Latham with his 11th save of the year and his first since May 30. Latham induced a double play to end the game and give the Chiefs their 42nd win of the year.
Cougars shortstop Mike Gilmartin went 3-for-4 and was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle in Wednesday nights game. Despite the loss he was happy for experience if nothing else.
"You are kind of just in awe," said Gilmartin. "Words can describe how it feels to play in such a place with great tradition and be on the field where many greats have played, be in the same batters box...it's pretty breathtaking."
