By WJBC Staff
DAVENPORT, Iowa – The Peoria Chiefs fell behind early, scored five runs in the fourth inning but then gave up the game-tying run in the 9th before getting walked off by the Quad Cities River Bandits 8-7 in 11 innings Thursday night. The loss drops the Chiefs to 1-6 on the road trip, 15-17 in the second half and 55-47 on the season.
Quad Cities jumped all over Chiefs starter Juan Perez in the bottom of the first inning. Myles Straw led off with a single and Kristian Trompiz launched a two-run home run into the left-field berm for a 2-0 Quad Cities lead. Kyle Tucker singled to center but was caught stealing second for the first out. Dexture McCall’s sixth homer of the season went to straight away center field and put the River Bandits on top 3-0.
Leo Pina got the Chiefs on the board in the second inning with his second home run in as many days. The solo shot, off lefty Matt Bower, cut the Chiefs deficit to 3-1
Perez gave up another home run with one out in the second as Hector Roa hit a solo shot for a 4-1 Bandits lead. After a walk, single and another walk, Perez went to a full count on McCall with two outs. He then left the game with an apparent injury and Luke Harrison issued bball four to McCall with the walk charged to Perez.
The Chiefs rallied back from a 5-1 deficit in the fourth thanks to a shaky Bandits defense. With one on, Myles Straw dropped a fly ball allowing RJ Dennard to reach with one out. Carlos Torres walked to load the bases and Magneuris Sierra doubled home three runs. Jose Martinez walked as Sierra stole third and Dylan Tice doubled to left for a 6-5 lead. Quad Cities manager Omar Lopez argued the ball was foul and he was ejected by home plate umpire Isaias Barba.
Peoria added on in the sixth as Pina’s fielders’ choice scored Tice for a 7-5 lead. Quad Cities got a double from Straw to pull within 7-6 against Steven De La Cruz in the eighth. In the ninth, De La Cruz got the first put before McCall launched a home run over the left-field berm and past the video board to tie the game 7-7.
The Chiefs did not get a hit in the 10th or the 11th and Straw led off the bottom of the 11th with a triple against Steven Gallardo. The Chiefs brought in a fifth infielder but it didn’t matter as Trompiz singled to left to win the game 8-7.
Perez allowed five runs on six hits in just 1 2/3 innings with three walks and three home runs allowed. Harrison threw 2 1/3 shutout innings with two hits allowed as he struck out two. Jorge Rodriguez threw three shutout innings with two hits allowed and four strikeouts. De La Cruz blew his sixth save of the season as he allowed two runs on two hits over two innings with two strikeouts. Gallardo (1-3) took the loss as he allowed one run on two hits in one inning.
