Defense Causes Game To Slip Away Again

The Peoria Chiefs took advantage of a Francisco Lizarraga throwing error in the ninth inning Thursday as they went on to beat the Great Lakes Loons by a score of 5-4.

With runners on first and second and two men out in a 4-4 game, Peoria’s Darwin Barney hit a slow ground ball to Lizarraga at short. Lizarraga tried to force out the runner at second, but was called safe. Lizarraga’s throw to first baseman Eduardo Perez was wild, allowing the winning run to score on the play.

Loons starter Josh Wall picked up a no-decision, after pitching 5.1 innings and allowing four Chiefs runs. Miguel Ramirez allowed the game winning run to score (an unearned run) to pick up the tough-luck loss, his record drops to 2-1.

Ramirez was the only member of the Loons without a loss on the 2007 season until picking up the decision in Thursdays ballgame.

The loss drops the Loons second-half record to 14-31. They are 48-67 overall this season.

The Loons-Chiefs series concludes Friday night from O’Brien Field, beginning at 8pm ET. Right-hander Kyle Smit is scheduled to make his first appearance in a Great Lakes uniform with the start.