Walk-Off Blast Beats Chiefs in Extras Saturday
Published on June 18, 2023 under Midwest League (MWL)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Lansing, MI- The Peoria Chiefs took a lead into the ninth inning Saturday, but ultimately fell 5-3 in 10 innings on a Brayan Buelvas walk-off home run. The Chiefs have now dropped three in a row and will try to earn a series split Sunday.
The Lugnuts threatened early against Peoria starter Dionys Rodriguez. The right-hander walked three in the home half of the first inning but worked out of the jam to turn in a scoreless first.
From there, both starting pitchers settled in until Lansing finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth. With Danny Bautista aboard at first, Alexander Campos launched a two-run homer just inside the left field foul pole to give the Lugnuts a 2-0 advantage. For Campos, it was his first long ball of the season.
After being stymied by Lansing starter Jacob Watters, the Chiefs broke through in the sixth, forcing Watters' exit from the contest. After consecutive singles from Nathan Church and Osvaldo Tovalin, Jeremy Rivas doubled to the gap in left center to plate Church and cut the deficit to 2-1. Two batters later, Francisco Hernandez fought off a two-strike pitch to score Tovalin and knot the score at 2-2. Later in the frame, Elijah Cabell hit a broken bat single to right to give Peoria the lead, 3-2.
With a one-run advantage, Peoria reliever Matt Hickey was up to the task. The sidearm right-hander entered in the fifth and did not allow a run over 3 2/3 innings pitched. Hickey did not allow a runner past second base and kept the Chiefs in front heading to the ninth inning.
Following a scoreless top of the ninth, Andrew Marrero entered the game looking for his eighth save of the season. After a groundout to begin the frame, a Max Muncy infield hit opened the door for Lansing. Muncy ultimately worked his way around the bases on the back of three wild pitches, the third which tied the score at 3-3 to force extras.
In the top of the 10, appointed runner Darlin Moquete was stranded at third as the Chiefs did not score.
Lansing wasted no time ending the game in the home half of the 10th. With the winning run 90 feet away at third, Brayan Buelvas connected on a no-doubt blast to left center to walk-off the Chiefs, 5-3.
After winning six in a row, the Chiefs have now dropped three straight. The series finale is set for Sunday at 1:05 EST/12:05 CST from Lansing.
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