DAVENPORT- The Peoria Chiefs allowed a run in the sixth and two more in the eighth as they lost 7-4 to the Quad Cities River Bandits Friday night. The loss snaps a three-game win streak and drops the Chiefs to 24-23 with three games left in the series at Quad Cities.
The River Bandits opened the scoring in their half of the first inning against Chiefs starter Brennan Leitao. Osvaldo Duarte tripled with one out and Kyle Tucker singled to bring him home and put the River Bandits on top 1-0.
The Chiefs took the lead in the top of the second against River Bandits starter Jose Hernandez. With one out Thomas Spitz singled and was out at second on a fielders’ choice off the bat of Vaughn Bryan. Leo Pina singled and advanced to second when the throw back into the infield went to third. Dylan Becker walked to load the bases and Magneuris Sierra singled to right to plate Bryan and Pina and give the Chiefs a 2-1 lead.
The Chiefs added a run to their lead in the top of the fourth. Spitz led off the inning with a bunt single and moved up to second on a passed ball. Bryan singled home Spitz for a 3-1 lead and he moved to second on a single by Pina. With one out Becker singled, but Bryan was cut down at home plate and the Chiefs lead held at 3-1.
The River Bandits retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Dexture McCall singled and Christian Correa reached on a throwing error by Leitao while attempting a sacrifice bunt. Keach Ballard doubled, scoring McCall and Arturo Michelena singled to plate Correa to tie the game. Quad Cities took the lead on a single by Myles Straw that scored Ballard to give the River Bandits a 4-3 lead.
The Chiefs pulled even in their half of the fifth. Eli Alvarez walked and advanced on a balk that was argued by River Bandits manager Omar Lopez until he was ejected. With two outs in the inning Chris Chinea singled home Alvarez to knot the game at 4-4.
The River Bandits took their third lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth. Ballard led off with a walk and moved to third when Michelena singled. Straw laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring Ballard home and chase Leitao from the ballgame. Juan Perez came on relief and retired the next two hitters to keep the score 5-4 River Bandits.
Quad Cites got a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. Ballard again led off with a walk and Michelena reached on an infield single while both runners advanced on Perez’s throwing error. After back-to-back strikeouts, Perez intentionally walked Tucker to load the bases and Connor Goedert singled to score Ballard. Steven De La Cruz entered the game in relief of Perez and issued a bases-loaded walk to Pat Porter. De La Cruz struck out the next batter to strand the bases loaded with the Chiefs trailing by the eventual final score of 7-4.
Leitao (3-4) took the loss, working 5 1/3 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on 10 hits while striking out seven and walking one. Perez worked 2 1/3 innings of relief, surrendering two runs on three hits while striking out five and walking two. De La Cruz faced two batters, going 1/3 of an inning with one walk and one strikeout.
