MWL Peoria Chiefs

Peoria Drops Pair Thursday, No-Hit in Nightcap

July 6, 2023 - Midwest League (MWL)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


South Bend, IN- After an exhilarating come-from-behind win on Tuesday, the Chiefs found themselves on the wrong end of things Thursday. In the completion of a suspended game from Wednesday, Peoria fell 7-6 in 10 innings to South Bend. Then, in the regularly scheduled contest, the Chiefs were no-hit in a 4-0 defeat.

Game One: The South Bend Cubs took advantage of a double play ball and a fielding error to beat the Chiefs 7-6 in 10 innings in Thursday's completion of Wednesday's suspended game.

Wednesday's contest was suspended with a run at second base and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning of a 6-6 tie.

On Thursday, Roy Garcia replaced Jack Ralston and retired Kevin Alcantara on one pitch to force extra innings.

In the top of the 10th, the Chiefs placed runners at first and third with one out. South Bend reliever Sheldon Reed forced Osvaldo Tovalin into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

In the home half of the inning, Alcantara stood at third base with one out in the bottom of the 10th. Cubs shortstop Ed Howard grounded back to Garcia in front of the mound. The Peoria pitcher lobbed the ball over the head of Chiefs catcher Jimmy Crooks, allowing Alcantara to score the winning run.

R.J. Yeager hit two home runs in the contest and drove in four of Peoria's runs. Yeager's effort was the second multi-homer game by a Chiefs batter this season.

Game Two: In the regularly scheduled contest, four South Bend pitchers combined to no-hit the Chiefs in a 4-0 defeat at Four Winds Field.

Peoria had not been no-hit in a game since July 14, 2016, a seven-inning affair in which they won 1-0 over the Lansing Lugnuts.

To find the last time the Chiefs were held hitless in a nine-inning game, you'd have to go back to August 7, 2008 when Peoria was no-hit by Burlington.

The Chiefs worked six walks in the game, including three against starter Michael Arias. Peoria loaded the bases in the top of the second but could not break through in what was their best scoring chance of the night.

South Bend plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to give themselves an early lead. With Alcantara aboard at second, Howard singled past a diving Jeremy Rivas to make it a 1-0 game. Then, following a walk, Felix Stevens singled home Howard to double the lead to 2-0.

Arias exited after three innings of work. The South Bend starter walked five and whiffed five. The Cubs bullpen was much more stingy. The trio of Jarod Wright, Eduarniel Nunez and Frankie Scalzo Jr. walked just two batters over six innings.

Peoria's best chance for a hit came in the top of the eighth inning. Nathan Church, the league leader in hits, lined towards the right field foul line. Stevens, who made a rare start at first base, made a diving, sprawling grab to rob Church of extra bases.

Right-hander Joseph King made his Chiefs debut in the loss. He surrendered RBI hits in the seventh and eighth to make it a 4-0 game.

Aaron McKeithan reached via walk in the ninth inning but the Chiefs could not break through with a hit. Scalzo punched out Jeremy Rivas to end the game and secure the no-hitter.

In the loss, Jimmy Crooks was 0-for-4, snapping his hitting streak at 16 games.

The Chiefs will look to bounce back Friday when Zane Mills takes the mound for Peoria. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. EST.

Check out the Peoria Chiefs Statistics



Midwest League Stories from July 6, 2023


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