Chiefs Score Five Unanswered in Comeback Win Saturday
August 26, 2023 - Midwest League (MWL)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Peoria, IL - The Cardiac Chiefs were at it again Saturday, scoring five unanswered runs to defeat West Michigan 5-2 in front of 6,549 fans at Dozer Park.
Peoria began its climb in the bottom of the seventh inning against West Michigan reliever Carlos Pena. Down 2-0, R.J. Yeager doubled with one out and then advanced to third on a ground out. Jimmy Crooks singled Yeager home to cut the deficit to 2-1. The inning was kept alive by Chris Rotondo, who singled. Osvaldo Tovalin then reached on an error to load the bases for Brody Moore, who hit an infield single to tie the game.
The Chiefs took the lead with three runs in the eighth. Alex Iadisernia drew a walk against Dario Gardea. After a strikeout, Ramon Mendoza and Yeager hit back-to-back singles which loaded the bases. Gabe Sequiera came in to face Nathan Church, who slapped the first pitch he saw down the third base line for a two-run double to make it 4-2. Crooks followed with a run scoring ground out to pad the Peoria lead to 5-2.
Yeager and Mendoza each had three hits. Crooks had two hits going 2-for-4. He also drove in two runs, giving him nine RBI in the series.
West Michigan scored the first two runs of the contest off Peoria starter Zane Mills. Gage Workman doubled with one out in the first. He scored three batters later on an Eliezer Alfonzo single which made it 1-0.
In the third, Seth Stephenson led off with a double. He was able to reach third later in the inning when Mills attempted to pick him off, but the throw went into the outfield. Brady Allen drove Stephenson in with a single making it 2-0.
Mills settled in after giving up the second run, retiring 10 of the final 12 hitters he faced allowing just one hit over that span. The right-hander turned in six inning of two-run ball, allowing five hits, while walking two and fanning three.
His counterpart, Troy Melton, only went three innings, but didn't allow a run on three hits, walking one and punching out two.
Edwin Nunez got the win for Peoria retiring all nine hitters he faced. Gardea took the loss for West Michigan, his second of the series.
The Chiefs improve to 63-56 and 30-23 in the second half. West Michigan improves to 62-55 and 30-22 in the latter half.
Peoria now leads the series three games to two. The final game of the series is scheduled for tomorrow at 1:05 p.m.
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