MWL Peoria Chiefs

Rotondo Flirts with History, Chiefs Boat Race Captains

Published on August 20, 2023 under Midwest League (MWL)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Eastlake, OH - Chris Rotondo finished a single shy of the cycle and drove in seven runs, one off of the single-game record, in a 12-2 rout of the Lake County Captains on Sunday. Peoria moved to 60-54 with the victory and salvaged the final two games of the series.

With the Chiefs out to a 2-1 lead in the third, Rotondo connected on a three-run homer to left center to put a bow on a five-run inning and give Peoria a 5-1 lead. His blast was his third at the High-A level and Lake County starter Jake Miller was chased from the game later in the frame.

An inning later, it was Rotondo again. With men at second and third, Rotondo lined one into right center, just out of the reach of a diving Jake Fox, to score Darlin Moquete and Jimmy Crooks.

Starter Zane Mills had more than enough insurance on Sunday. After surrendering a lead-off homer, the right-hander was stingy the rest of the way. Mills allowed just three hits in total and did allow another run. He whiffed three and later earned the win, his sixth.

Matt Hickey, who made his first appearance since June 29, twirled a scoreless sixth. Lake County scratched a run in the bottom of the seventh against Gustavo Rodriguez but they would get no closer than 7-2.

In the eighth, Peoria got that run right back and then some, putting together their second five spot of the contest. With one on and one out, Alex Iadisernia clobbered a no-doubt homer to right to extend the Peoria lead to 9-2. Then, later in the frame, Rotondo put an exclamation point on his afternoon. The Peoria slugger tripled to right center to score two more tallies and boost the lead to 11-2. He later scored on an Aaron Davenport balk to make it 12-2. All told, Rotondo finished 3-for-4 with seven RBIs and a pair of runs scored. He was one RBI shy of the single-game RBI record that was tied by LJ Jones last season in Beloit.

Jack Ralston recorded the final six outs as Peoria salvaged the final two games of the series after dropping four straight to begin the week.

After an off day on Monday, the Chiefs return home to Dozer Park on Tuesday when they host the West Michigan Whitecaps, the High-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.

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Midwest League Stories from August 20, 2023


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