Late error dooms Loons

An Adolfo Gonzalez error led to two runs in the bottom half of the eighth inning Wednesday as the Peoria Chiefs ended the Loons’ two-game winning streak with a 3-1 win.

With the bases loaded and one out in a 1-1 game, Peoria’s Russ Canzler hit a sharp ground ball to Gonzalez at short. Had Gonzalez fielded the ball cleanly, he could have begun an inning-ending double play. But the ball skipped off his glove allowing two runs to score on the play.

The Loons would bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning after a Rick Taloa walk, and things looked promising when Scott Van Slyke followed with a line drive down the left field line. But Van Slyke was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double, and Juan Apodaca followed with a strikeout to end the ballgame.

Loons’ starter Steven Johnson picked up a no-decision, despite throwing a season-high seven innings and allowing just one run. The run came on a solo homer by Peoria catcher Wellington Castillo, the first homer he has surrendered all season.

Offensively, the Loons’ managed only four hits, one of which was a Matt Berezay RBI double to tie the game at one. The double was Berezay’s 27th of the year.

The series continues Thursday night from O’Brien Field, beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Right-hander Josh Wall (5-9) is scheduled to start on the hill for the Loons.

A box score of Wednesday’s game is available at milb.com.