Whitecaps Clip Chiefs in 10 Innings

PEORIA, IL – The Chiefs brought the winning run to the plate in the 10th inning but the West Michigan Whitecaps escaped with a 3-1 win Wednesday.

West Michigan took an early 1-0 lead in the third inning after Max Anderson drove in a run off Pete Hansen. For Hansen, it was his lone blemish. The left-hander worked six innings of one-run ball Wednesday. Through three May starts, Hansen has a sparkling 1.02 ERA and has held opponents to a .227 batting average.

Peoria’s offense was stymied by West Michigan starter Joe Miller, who made his High-A debut Thursday. After plunking a pair of Chiefs batters in the first inning, Miller settled in. He scattered just one hit over five innings.

In the home half of the seventh, Michael Curialle stayed red hot. The Peoria infielder tied the game with a solo home run, his fourth home run in his last three contests. He finished with two hits on Wednesday and is hitting .348 in the month of May.

With a 1-1 tie, the game moved into extra innings. West Michigan pushed two runs across on Peoria reliever Gustavo Rodriguez in the top of the 10th. He took the loss after he went the final two innings of the contest.

Osvaldo Tovalin started at second in the 10th and Zach Levenson singled with one out. Alex Iadisernia flied out and Dakota Harris grounded out to end the game.

Hancel Rincon will take the ball for Peoria Thursday afternoon in game three of the series. Dozer Park hosts its fourth and final Education Day of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m.