Sierra, O’Keefe leads Chiefs to win

Posted on August 12, 2016

By WJBC Staff

PEORIA – The Peoria Chiefs built a seven-run lead and knocked off the Quad Cities River Bandits 7-4 on Thursday night in the opener of an eight-game homestand. The Chiefs are now 23-22 in the second half and 63-52 overall.

The Chiefs knocked Quad Cities starter Matt Bower around for the third time in the last 14 days. Craig Aikin drew a walk to start the third and Carlos Torres singled. Magneuris Sierra’s second hit of the game was a RBI double to left for a 1-0 lead and with one out Eli Alvarez singled to right for a 2-0 Chiefs lead. With two down in the inning, Chris Chinea singled to center for a 3-0 lead before Bower got out of the inning.

The Chiefs still led 3-0 into the fifth inning when Sierra led off with a single and Jose Martinez doubled to right. Alvarez drew a walk to load the bases and O’Keefe launched the Chiefs first grand slam of the season down the left-field line for a 7-0 lead. The blast ended the night for Bower who allowed 19 runs on 22 hits and four home runs over 12 2/3 innings in three starts against the Chiefs in his last three starts.

Quad Cities scored on a two-run double from Dexture McCall in the sixth, the only runs allowed by starter Dailyn Martinez. The visitors also plated solo runs in the seventh and ninth off the Chiefs bullpen.

Martinez (4-4) earned the win allowing two runs on five hits over six innings while striking out seven and walking one. Nick Frey allowed one run on three hits over two innings while Tyler Bray allowed one run on one hits and one walk in his lone inning of work.

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