MWL Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Claim First-Half Finale in Convincing Fashion

June 22, 2023 - Midwest League (MWL)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Davenport, IA- Cardinals No. 2 prospect Tink Hence twirled five shutout innings and the Peoria offense exploded for seven runs in the top of the ninth in a 10-1 drubbing of Quad Cities on Thursday. With the win, the Chiefs finished an even 33-33 in the season's first half.

Peoria took the lead three batters into the contest Thursday and never looked back. After Victor Scott reached on a lead-off error, Scott swiped second for his 49th stolen base of the season. Then, an Aaron McKeithan single allowed Scott to motor home and give the Chiefs a 1-0 advantage.

The early cushion was more than enough for Hence. The right-hander worked around a two-out single in the first, punched out the side in the second and faced the minimum through three. Hence surrendered just one additional hit in the contest. He left the game after five scoreless frames. The highly-touted pitcher topped out at 99 MPH on the radar gun and fanned a season-high seven batters.

A timely two-out hit doubled the Peoria lead in the top of the sixth. With McKeithan aboard at second, Osvaldo Tovalin lined into center field to score the Peoria catcher and make it 2-0.

Quad Cities quickly got the run back in the bottom of the sixth against Andrew Marrero. With one out in the inning, Shervyen Newton connected on a solo homer to make it a 2-1 game. The River Bandits would not get a hit the rest of the way.

Darlin Moquete, who made his first start of the week, pushed the lead right back to two in the top of the seventh. The right fielder launched a solo homer to right to push the score to 3-1.

In the Peoria ninth, Quad Cities reliever Anderson Paulino appeared to roll an inning-ending double play. A River Bandits error opened the door for a seven-run Chiefs ninth. After consecutive walks loaded the bases, Nathan Church singled home a pair to give the Chiefs a 5-1 cushion. Then, following a McKeithan walk, it was Jimmy Crooks' turn to unload the bases. Crooks doubled to the gap in right center to score three Peoria runners, extending the lead to 8-1. A Ramon Mendoza single brought in Crooks to make it 9-1. Then, Tovalin finished the scoring with his second RBI of the night, a double to the wall in center field. In the midst of the onslaught, Scott added his second swipe of the game to secure his 50th stolen base of the season.

All told, the trio of Hence, Marrero and Roy Garcia scattered just three hits and punched out 11 Quad Cities batters. Garcia, who entered the game in the eighth, recorded his third save of 2023.

The season's second half kicks off Friday in Davenport. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. The second half divisional winners will join Great Lakes and Cedar Rapids in the Midwest League playoffs in mid-September.

Check out the Peoria Chiefs Statistics



Midwest League Stories from June 22, 2023


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