Bowling Green, KY – The Peoria Chiefs scored three runs in both the eighth and ninth innings to beat the Bowling Green Hot Rods 7-4 on Monday afternoon to win the series. The win moves the Chiefs to 18-13 in the second half and 48-52 on the season as they return home for a seven-game home stand.
The game was scoreless after three innings with starters Evan Kruczynski and Willy Ortiz both getting out of early jams. The Chiefs took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning as catcher Ryan McCarvel hit his 13th home run of the season. The blast to right-center marked the fifth game in a row in which the Chiefs have hit at least one home run.
The Hot Rods tied the game in the fifth inning when Miles Mastrobuoni hit a solo homer to right-center, his first of the season. Bowling Green took the lead in the sixth as they knocked out Kruczynski. A solo homer from Jesus Sanchez made it 2-1 and a walk ended Kruczynski’s afternoon. Dewin Perez yielded a single to Adrian Rondon and Mastrobuoni put the hosts on top 4-1 with a single to center.
The Chiefs rallied in the eighth inning against Jason McKinley. Stefan Trosclair singled with one out and moved to third on a single by Danny Hudzina. McCarvel doubled off the wall in right-center to score both runners and cut the deficit to 4-3. Jesus Yepez singled home McCarvel to tie the game but the Chiefs left two runners on base to end the inning.
Yeison Medina escaped the bottom of the eighth with a 6-4-3 double play and the Chiefs took advantage in the ninth. Mick Fennell drew a leadoff walk and stole second with one out before Trosclair walked. Hudzina capped a huge series back in Bowling Green where he attended college as he doubled home both runners and gave the Chiefs a 6-4 lead. Dylan Carlson singled home Hudzina for a 7-4 Chiefs lead to cap the scoring.
Kruczynski allowed three runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings as he walked one and struck out two in a no-decision. Perez allowed one run on three hits over 1 1/3 innings while striking out one. Medina (3-0) earned the win with two shutout innings in which he allowed one hit, walked one and struck out one.
