Chiefs Fall to South Bend 5-1, Drop Ninth Consecutive Ballgame

Peoria, IL- For the second straight night, the Chiefs struggled offensively as they fell 5-1 to the South Bend Cubs Friday at Dozer Park.

Peoria has now dropped nine straight games, its longest losing streak since May of 2022.

For the second consecutive night, the Cubs got on the board in the first inning. Ezequiel Pagan struck the first pitch of the game from Chiefs starter Max Rajcic into center field. After stealing second, Kevin Made singled him home to make it 1-0. Made moved to third on a James Triantos single. Two batters later, Made scored on a ground out to make it 2-0.

Rajcic allowed two more runs in the top of the fourth. The Cubs loaded the bases with two outs for Pagan, who singled home two runs to double the lead to 4-0.

Rajcic went five innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walking one and striking out six.

The Chiefs lone offense came in their half of the fourth. Jimmy Crooks hit his team-leading eighth home run to cut the deficit to 4-1.

That was the lone blemish on Brandon Birdsell’s line. The Cubs right hander went 4 ⅓ innings, allowing one run on four hits, walking two and fanning three.

Tyler Santana ended up earning the win for South Bend. Santana entered in the fifth and allowed just two hits over 3 ⅔ innings of work.

South Bend capped the scoring against Dionys Rodriguez in the eighth. With two outs, Felix Stevens hit a fly ball to center field that was lost in the sky by Alex Iadisernia, falling for a double. Christian Franklin followed by doubling home Stevens to make it 5-1.

Franklin extended his hitting streak to eight games going 1-for-4. Pagan had his third multi-hit game of the series going 2-for-4.

Thomas Francisco had three of Peoria’s six hits going 3-for-4.

The Chiefs are now 46-48 and 13-15 in the second half. South Bend has won four in a row for the first time all year and improved to 43-50 and 13-15 in the latter half. With the victory, South Bend has secured the win of the season series.

Game five of the series is scheduled for tomorrow at 6:35 p.m.