By WJBC Staff
DAVENPORT, Iowa – The Peoria Chiefs blew 3-0 and 4-3 leads before scoring two runs in the top of the ninth for a wild 6-5 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits Monday night. The win moves the Chiefs to 26-24 and into a tie for second place as they return home to start a three-game homestand.
The Chiefs took a lead in the top of the first inning against River Bandits starter Franklin Perez. Eli Alvarez singled and stole his team-leading 14th base with two outs. Brian O’Keefe gave the Chiefs a 1-0 lead with a single to center before Perez got out of the inning.
Chiefs starter Jake Woodford struck out the side in the bottom of the first and Peoria added to the lead in the second. Jose Godoy singled with one out and moved to third on a single by Leo Pina and a throwing error by Connor Goedert. Craig Aikin singled to center to score Godoy for a 2-0 Chiefs lead. Aikin stole second and on the throw Pina stole home for a 3-0 lead before Perez retired the next two batters to end the inning.
Quad Cities scored twice in the third inning against Woodford. Christian Correa reached on a one-out infield single and Arturo Michelena singled to center. Correa scored on a single by Miles Straw and an error by Aikin in center. Keach Ballard cut the Chiefs lead to 3-2 before Woodford got two straight flyouts to end the inning.
Woodford stranded the bases loaded in the fifth and got through the sixth before giving way to Jorge Rodriguez and the Chiefs bullpen. Straw singled with one out in the seventh and moved to second with two outs on a pickoff error by Rodriguez. Kyle Tucker tied the game 3-3 with a single to right and he was thrown out at second base by Thomas Spitz to end the inning.
The Chiefs regained the lead against David Schmidt and Ralph Garza in the eighth. Sosa led off with a walk and moved to third on a one-out single by O’Keefe. Garza came in for Schmidt and with two outs he threw a wild pitch that scored Sosa to tie the game.
Goedert started the eighth with a double off the center field wall and after Rodriguez walked Pat Porter the Chiefs brought in Tyler Bray. Dexture McCall singled to load the bases with no outs before a fielders’ choice retired Goedert at the plate. A wild pitch scored Porter to tie the game and Correa gave Quad Cities a 5-4 lead with a sac fly to center.
Pina started the Chiefs rally in the ninth with a one-out single to left. Aikin beat the shift with a single to left and Vaughn Bryan did the same to score Pina and tie the game 5-5. Sosa singled to right to load the bases and the Chiefs took a 6-5 lead when Garza hit Alvarez in the foot with a pitch. Garza struck out the next two batters to leave the bases full of Chiefs but Bray retired the Bandits in order in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the 6-5 win.
Woodford took a no-decision as he allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits over six innings. He struck out six and walked two. Rodriguez allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits and one walk in one inning. He was charged with a blown save and committed an error. Bray (1-2) earned the win as he struck out one and allowed one hit over two innings of work with a wild pitch.
The Chiefs will face Milwaukee Brewers rehabbing starting pitcher Matt Garza when they host the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Garza has been on the disabled list with a straight right lat muscle since early April and has not pitched in the majors this season.
