For the seventh time in the last 11 games, the Chiefs played a one-run game, but Lansing came out on top 4-3 over Peoria on Wednesday afternoon at Jackson Field. Four of the last five Chiefs losses have been by one run.
The Chiefs have lost five in a row to drop to 23-26 in the second half, 55-60 overall.
Peoria starter Cade Crossland got out of a bases loaded jam in the first inning, allowing two hits and a walk but striking out the side.
Jared Davis doubled to lead off the second before Pedro Pineda brought him in to make it 1-0 Lansing.
In the third, the Chiefs put runners on the corners thanks to a pair of walks and a stolen base. Lansing starter Jackson Nove balked on his pickoff attempt to first base, allowing Anyelo Encarnación to score and even the game at one.
Sammy Hernandez drove in Alex Birge with an RBI single to give the Chiefs a 2-1 lead.
Crossland went 3.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits. He walked two and struck out seven.
In the sixth, Rodney Green Jr. singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Bryan Arendt’s double to tie the game at two.
Arendt advanced to third when Jalin Flores made a catch in foul territory along the side wall before Zeke Wood’s wild pitch brought him home to give Lansing a 3-2 lead.
Zeke Wood stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh after two walks and a single.
Hernandez’s two-out solo home run was his second RBI of the day, tying the game at three in the eighth inning.
Lansing answered immediately in the bottom of the eighth when Pedro Pineda lined a ball to right and Ian Petrutz couldn’t come up with the diving play, resulting in a triple and a run on Daniel Bucciero’s single to make it 4-3.
The Chiefs went down 1-2-3 in the ninth.
The third game of the week between the Chiefs and the Lugnuts is set for Thursday at 7:05 p.m. Fans can listen to the hometown call on PeoriaChiefs.com.