LANSING, Mich. – The Peoria Chiefs surrendered a season-high 12 runs as Lansing Lugnuts outfielder D.J. Davis drove in eight runs in a 12-4 setback Monday afternoon. The loss drops the Chiefs to 27-31 on the season and they head into the final off day of the first half after a 1-5 road trip.
The Chiefs jumped out to leads of 2-0 and 3-2 against Lansing starter Shane Dawson. Nick Thompson led off the second inning with a single and with two outs Steve Bean was hit in the shoulder. Luis Cruz doubled down the right field line for a 2-0 lead but was left at third after an error. Lansing tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a two-run home run before the Chiefs regained the lead in the third. Darren Seferina singled, stole second and moved to third on a groundout. A wild pitch by Dawson plated Seferina and gave the Chiefs a 3-2 lead.
Matt Pearce ran into trouble in the bottom of the third with a single and two walks loading the bases with two outs. Davis, who had singled and scored in the second, unloaded the bases with a three-run double off the right-center field wall for a 5-3 Lugnuts lead.
Lansing put two on against Pearce in the fifth inning and Tyler Bray came out of the bullpen with one out. Ryan McBroom singled to load the bases and Davis struck again. His grand slam to right field put the Lugnuts on top 9-3. Davis tied the Lansing single-game RBI record with a double in the sixth inning off Julio Mateo. The right-fielder had a shot at setting a new record but popped out to third base to end the eighth.
The Chiefs scored in the sixth against the Lansing bullpen as Vaughn Bryan’s groundout to second brought home Alex DeLeon. Lansing scored three runs against Mateo and Bray to finish the scoring at 12-4.
Pearce (3-6) took the loss allowing seven runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out seven while allowing a home run. Bray allowed five runs on five hits and a walk over 1 1/3 innings while striking out one and allowing a home run. Mateo allowed one hit and two walks over one shutout inning while striking out one. Kyle Grana retired all four batters he faced and recorded a strikeout.
