Courtesy Peoria Chiefs:

Rehabbing Chicago Cubs Aramis Ramirez and Reed Johnson both collected hits and scored as the Peoria Chiefs defeated the Kane County Cougars 7-1 Friday night. The Chiefs split the four-game series with Kane County and are now 3-5 on the second half. Ramirez and Johnson will continue their rehabs with the Chiefs at O’Brien Field on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. against the Beloit Snappers. The Chiefs took an early lead in the top of the first. Johnson led-off the inning with a pop-up to shortstop. With two outs recorded, Ramirez stepped up to the plate and delivered a double that hit off the right-field wall. Kyler Burke singled to plate Ramirez for his 40th RBI of the season. With Rebel Ridling batting, Burke stole his eighth base of the season. Ridling hit a screamer down the third-base line for a double to score Burke and give the Chiefs an early 2-0 lead. Kane County got one run back in their half of the second inning against Chiefs starter Jeff Beliveau. Jeremy Barfield began the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a walk issued to Michael Spina. Petey Paramore singled to advance both runners. Stephen Parker grounded out and scored Barfield to make it a 2-1 ball game. The Chiefs tacked on three more runs in the third against Cougars starter Mathieu Leblanc-Poirier. Johnson began the inning with a single to left-field and advanced to second with one down on a walk issued to Ramirez. Burke singled Johnson home and advanced to second on a fielding error by right-fielder Barfield. With two outs in the inning, Nelson Perez hit a two RBI single, scoring Ramirez and Burke for a 5-1 Chiefs lead. Peoria kept the runs coming in the ninth, adding two more to the board. Johnson’s replacement, Andrew Rundle, began the inning with a walk. Josh Harrison reached on a force attempt and fielding error by pitcher Scott Deal, allowing Harrison to take second and Rundle to reach third. With one down, Burke was issued a walk to load the bases. Ridling singled to plate Rundle and Harrison and the Chiefs led 7-1 going into the bottom of the ninth. Chiefs’ reliever Manolin De Leon allowed one walk in the ninth before Parker grounded into a force-out to end the game. Ramirez went 1-for-2 with two runs scored, a double and one walk. He had no chances defensively at third base through four innings. Johnson went 1-for-2 and was hit by a pitch in the fourth. He made three putouts in center field through five innings. Beliveau (3-2) made his fourth start of the season and gave up one run on three hits while earning the win. The left-hander went five innings for the second time this season and walked one while striking out six. Kevin Kreier gave up two hits and struck out one in his two innings of relief. De Leon was spotless in his two innings of work not giving up a hit while walking one and striking out two.