Bowling Green, KY – The Peoria Chiefs rallied for a 5-4 10-inning win Wednesday afternoon to avoid the sweep at the hands of the Bowling Green Hot Rods. The win ends a four-game losing streak and moves the Chiefs to 14-16 on the season as they head to Dayton, Ohio for another three-game series.
For the third game in a row the Chiefs scored in the top of the first inning. With one down Irving Lopez singled off Austin Franklin and he moved to second on a two-out single by Elehuris Montero. Zack Kirtley gave the Chiefs a 1-0 with his first RBI since joining the team on Monday as he singled to center. Dennis Ortega singled to left for a 2-0 lead before Franklin got out of the inning.
The Hot Rods got on the board in the second inning thanks to a Chiefs error. With two on base and one out, Jonatan Machado misplayed a flyball in left for an error as Ronaldo Hernandez scored and the Hot Rods had runners on second and third after the play. Alvaro Seijas recovered to strike out the next two batters and escape the inning.
The Chiefs got that run back in the top of the third. Montero was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch. With one down Ortega singled to right as Montero slid home ahead of the throw for a 3-1 Chiefs lead.
Bowling Green tied the game in the fourth inning. With two on and nobody out the Chiefs turned a 4-6-3 double play as Carl Chester scored to cut the lead to 3-2. Jim Haley started a two-out rally with a single and the Hot Rods loaded the bases on a single and walk. Seijas forced home a run as he walked Brendan McKay to tie the game.
The game stayed tied until the sixth as Bryan Dobzanski took over on the mound for Seijas. He retired the first two batters before Zach Rutherford singled and McKay walked. Hernandez put Bowling Green on top 4-3 with a single to left.
The Chiefs tied the game in the ninth against Hunter Schryver. Edwin Figuera reached on a single and was out at second base on a fielders’ choice with Nick Plummer safe at first. Plummer stole second and scored to tie the game on a single to center by Lopez. Yariel Gonzalez singled to put runners on the corners but Montero grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Peoria took the lead in the top of the 10th. With Montero at second and one out, Ortega singled to center to put runners on the corners. Bryce Denton hit a chopper to first and the throw home was in the dirt as Montero scored for a 5-4 Chiefs lead. Denton stole second to put two in scoring position but Machado struck out and Figuera grounded out to end the inning.
Seijas took a no-decision as he allowed three runs on nine hits over five innings. He struck out two and walked three on the afternoon. Dobzanski allowed one run on two hits and a walk as he struck out two over two innings. Kodi Whitley (3-0) got the win as he allowed two hits over three shutout innings while striking out one.
Notes…Ortega picked off two runners at third base in the game including one with one out in the bottom of the ninth…He also had three hits and two RBI…Peoria tied a season high with three stolen bases…The Chiefs had been 0-14 when trailing after eight innings this season…Montero tied a season high for any Chiefs player with three runs scored…The Chiefs are 4-4 in day games, 2-1 on the road…The Chiefs are 2-2 in extra inning games, 1-2 on the road…The Chiefs now head to Dayton, Ohio for a three-game series with the Dayton Dragons starting at 7:00 p.m. ET on Thursday…The Chiefs will start RH Zach Prendergast (3-1, 2.65) against Dayton LH Packy Naughton (3-1, 3.93)…The broadcast can be heard, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 5:45 p.m. Central on www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive and is also available on the Peoria Chiefs Network in the Tune-In Radio App.
