Chiefs Plate Three in the Ninth to Best Quad Cities
Published on June 25, 2023 under Midwest League (MWL)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Davenport, IA - The Peoria Chiefs again rekindled some late-inning magic on Sunday, scoring three times in the ninth to complete an 8-6 comeback win against the Quad Cities River Bandits.
On a day with the wind blowing out, both offenses got started early. In the top of the second, the Chiefs drew first blood. With Jimmy Crooks aboard at first, Darlin Mquete launched a two-run homer to left to make it 2-0 Chiefs. Peoria scored first in all six games in the series.
Quad Cities responded in kind, scoring two of their own in the home half of the inning. After back-to-back singles off of Zane Mills, the Bandits had runners on the corners with no one out. Mills recorded a foul pop out but a River Town sac fly cut the lead to 2-1. Then, a Jack Alexander single tied the score, 2-2.
An inning later, Quad Cities created some separation. With runners at first and second, Cayden Wallace collected one of his three hits. His single to right field gave the Bandits their first lead, 3-2. Then, an odd play on the infield gave Quad Cities two more tallies. Carter Jensen poked a slow chopper towards Francisco Hernandez. The second baseman fielded the ball but his throw was wide and off the glove of Thomas Francisco, allowing Gavin Cross and Jensen to score.
Peoria turned to Davenport native Ian Bedell to keep the lead at three. The right-hander, who started on Tuesday, took a turn out of the Chiefs bullpen. After getting the final two outs in the third, he twirled a scoreless fourth.
In the fifth, a two-out rally got the Chiefs right back into the ballgame. With the bases empty and no one out, an Aaaron McKeithan walk and a single from Crooks and Moquete loaded the bases for Osvaldo Tovalin. In what was a theme of the series, Tovalin cleared the bases with a double to the gap in left center, tying the score at 5-5.
Following the lead of Bedell, the rest of the Peoria bullpen stood tall. Nathanael Heredia picked up a scoreless innings while Gustavo Rodriguez retired all five batters he encountered in the seventh and eighth innings.
In the ninth, it was the middle of the order again delivering. Following a Nathan Church hit by pitch, McKeithan singled through the hole on the left side, setting up Crooks for some additional heroics. The catcher grounded one into right to score Church and give Peoria a 6-5 cushion. The next batter, Moquete, executed a squeeze bunt to score pinch-runner Tyler Reichenborn and make it a 7-5 game. Then, Tovalin racked up his second double, this time tacking on an insurance run to boost the lead to 8-5.
The quartet of McKeithan, Crooks, Moquete and Tovalin combined to go 11-for-17 with a homer, three doubles and eight runs driven in.
Rodriguez came back out for the ninth and was challenged late. Following a lead-off single from Shervyen Newton, Cross singled him home with two outs in the frame. Wallace dug in as the tying run but ultimately whiffed to end the contest.
With the win, the Chiefs finished 8-4 on their 12-game road swing. They took five of six contests from Quad Cities and joined Dayton as the only other undefeated team in the Midwest League' second half.
The Chiefs are off Monday and Tuesday. They return home to host Cedar Rapids on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. The OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois will sponsor a drone show following the contest.
Midwest League Stories from June 25, 2023
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- 'Caps, Mother Nature Wash Away Loons, 2-1 - West Michigan Whitecaps
- TinCaps Win Sunday's Game and Series at South Bend - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Kernels Sweep Sunday Doubleheader with Beloit 10-6 and 8-3 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Offense Pounds Sixteen Hits to Beat Lugnuts 12-4 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Chiefs Plate Three in the Ninth to Best Quad Cities - Peoria Chiefs
- Loons Drop Rain-Shortened Series Finale 2-1 - Great Lakes Loons
- Ibarra, Nelson Blast Long Home Runs in Dragons 3-2 Victory - Dayton Dragons
- Reds Pitcher Derek Law Expected to Start for Dragons Today on Rehab Assignment - Dayton Dragons
- Dayton Dragons GameDay Notes for Sunday (1:10 PM Game) - Dayton Dragons
- TinCaps Game Information: June 25 at South Bend (Cubs) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
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