By WJBC Staff
SOUTH BEND. Ind. – The Peoria Chiefs led both games of their doubleheader Monday but got walked off by South Bend 9-8 in game one before a six-run sixth inning resulted in a 9-2 game two loss. The losses drop the Chiefs to 14-16 in the second half and 54-46 overall heading into a Tuesday off day.
The Chiefs scored in the first inning for the second game in a row in game one. Magneuris Sierra drew a walk from Adbert Azolay and Jose Martinez doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Sierra scored on a groundout by Dylan Tice for a 1-0 lead and Chris Chinea singled home Martinez for a 2-0 advantage. The Chiefs left two on base and South Bend grabbed one run back against Brennan Leitao in the bottom of the inning on a double by Eloy Jimenez.
Peoria extended their lead in the third inning. Martinez singled and moved to second on a wild pitch with one out. Jose Godoy singled to left to give the Chiefs a 3-1 lead. South Bend answered as Jimenez delivered a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning to score PJ Higgins The hosts tied the game 3-3 when Eddy Julio Martinez hit a solo home run to left field in the fourth inning.
It appeared the Chiefs broke the game open in the fifth. Sierra led off with a double and scored on a double by Martinez for a 4-3 Chiefs lead. Godoy singled home Martinez for a 5-3 lead and Leo Pina’s double made it 6-3. After a pitching change for South Bend, RJ Dennard single home a run for a 7-3 lead.
Again the Chiefs gave up runs immediately after scoring. Bryant Flete singled and Carlos Sepulveda hit a two-run homer off Leitao to cut the Chiefs lead to 7-5. Donnie Dewees walked with one out and moved to third on a single before scoring on a Martinez sac fly.
The Chiefs got insurance in the seventh inning as Dylan Tice singled, moved to third on a Chinea singled and scored on a double play. But nothing went right for the Chiefs in the bottom of the inning. Tyler Bray walked the first two batters before a sacrifice bunt. He intentionally walked Jimenez to load the bases and Martinez tied the game with a single to center. The Chiefs brought in a fifth infielder and got an out at the plate for the second out of the inning. With runners on first and second, Alberto Mineo singled to left and Martinez scored before the throw from Tice for a 9-8 South Bend win.
In game one Leitao allowed six runs on nine hits over six innings while walking one, hitting one, striking out two and allowing two home runs. Bray (2-3) suffered his fifth blown save as he allowed three runs on two hits and three walks in 2/3 of an inning.
In game two the Chiefs again jumped out to an early lead. Sierra led off the first inning with a single before Justin Steele recorded two straight outs. Sierra stole second and scored on a single by Brian O’Keefe. Chinea reached on catcher’s interference and Pina’s infield single loaded the bases. O’Keefe scored on a passed ball for a 2-0 lead before Josh Swirchak struck out looking to end the inning.
South Bend went in order in the first against Dailyn Martinez but the Chiefs left the bases loaded in the second as O’Keefe struck out to end the inning. Jimenez launched his 11th home run of the season over the left-field wall, berm and concourse to cut the Chiefs lead to 2-1.
The hosts took the lead in the third inning with a pair of extra base hits. Roberto Caro led off with a double to left-center and he advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Andruw Monasterio tied the game with a double to right and South Bend took a 3-2 lead on a two-out single by Jimenez.
The Chiefs left a runner at second in the fifth and left two on in the sixth. South Bend delivered the knock out punch with a six run sixth inning. Monasterio led off with a single and moved to third on a single by Dewees. Martinez walked Jimenez and South Bend took a 4-2 lead when Monasterio scored on another walk. Mineo singled home two for a 6-2 lead and Juan Perez took over on the mound. He allowed two more runs on a single to right by Roberto Caro and a final run scored on an error for a 9-2 South Bend lead.
Martinez (2-3) took the loss allowing eight runs, seven earned, on eight hits and two walks over five innings. Perez allowed an unearned run on one hit, one walk and one strikeout in one inning.
