Three-run 10th inning for Peoria sends Quad Cities to second straight loss
DAVENPORT, Iowa (APRIL 12, 2013) - Hosting the affiliate of their former parent club and welcoming several alumni back to Modern Woodmen Park, the Quad Cities River Bandits battled the Peoria Chiefs into the 10th inning Friday night before an infield single by Chiefs second baseman Breyvic Valera and a two-run error by River Bandits third baseman Rio Ruiz led to a 4-1 victory for the visitors in front of a home-opening crowd of 1,377 fans.
The Chiefs (4-3), the affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, opened the 10th inning against right-hander John Neely (0-1) with a single by shortstop Alex Mejia and a walk by Chiefs right fielder and former River Bandit Nick Martini. Chiefs center fielder Charlie Tilson sacrificed both runners before Neely intentionally walked Chiefs catcher and former River Bandit Casey Rasmus. With the bases loaded, Neely struck out Chiefs left fielder and former River Bandit Michael Swinson. With two outs and the infield at normal depth, Valera hit a soft grounder to the left of the pitcher's mound, and shortstop Carlos Correa was unable to pick it up for a play, bringing in the go-ahead run. Chiefs third baseman Patrick Wisdom then chopped a grounder that got past third baseman Rio Ruiz, whose error allowed two more runs to score for a 4-1 Peoria lead.
The River Bandits (5-2), the affiliate of the Houston Astros, made the bottom of the 10th inning interesting against former River Bandit and Chiefs right-hander Dixon Llorens. Center fielder Teoscar Hernandez singled to cap a 3-for-5 night, and Correa drew a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. Ruiz grounded out, advancing both runners. Then first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki struck out looking - the 14th strikeout for Quad Cities hitters Friday night. Designated hitter Terrell Joyce grounded out to Chiefs first baseman and former River Bandit Jordan Walton. Quad Cities finished the night 1-for-18 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base.
Quad Cities broke a scoreless tie in the third inning, as second baseman Joe Sclafani reached second base on a throwing error by Valera. Two batters later, Correa drove a double to center field for a 1-0 lead. After that, right-hander Kurt Heyer did not allow another runner past second base. Heyer finished five innings, allowing four hits, one unearned run and two walks, while striking out eight batters.
Peoria tied the game in the next half-inning against right-hander Mike Hauschild. Wisdom drew a one-out walk, and Walton lined a double down the left-field line, advancing to third base on the throw home. With Mejia batting, Walton tried stealing home, and Hauschild threw to Peña for the final out of the inning. Hauschild finished five innings, allowed three hits, one run and one walk, and struck out three batters. Left-hander Colton Cain worked in and out of trouble in the sixth and seventh innings and finished three shutout innings with three hits, one walk and three strikeouts.
The Chiefs bullpen pitched five shutout innings, as right-handers Michael Aldrete and Joe Scanio (1-0) each worked two innings.
The River Bandits will try to even the series Saturday night at 7 p.m., when a tandem of right-hander Jordan Jankowski (0-0) and left-hander Brian Holmes (0-0) will face Chiefs left-hander and former River Bandit Dail Villanueva (0-1).
