Flores drives in five, Chiefs late push falls short

Despite five RBIs and a home run from Jalin Flores, a four-run eighth inning for Quad Cities proved to be the difference in a 7-6 loss for the Chiefs on Saturday night at Dozer Park.

With the defeat, the Chiefs fall to 20-20 in the second half and lose their second series to the River Bandits this season.

In the first, Asbel Gonzalez dropped a soft double over first base into shallow right field and later scored when Sammy Hernandez’s throw to third on a stolen-base attempt skipped away, giving the River Bandits a 1-0 lead.

In the second, Ian Petrutz was hit by a pitch before being thrown out at the plate on Josh Kross’ double. Flores followed with a double into the right-center gap to score Kross and tie the game at 1-1.

Ryan Weingartner’s first High-A hit took a wild hop over third baseman Jose Cerice, scoring Flores to give the Chiefs a 2-1 lead.

In the fourth, Jose Cerice recorded a two-run double to put Quad Cities back on top, 3-2.

Peoria southpaw Brandon Clarke impressed in his Chiefs debut, striking out seven and walking one while allowing three runs on three hits in 4.1 innings. Clarke was acquired from Boston in November in the trade that sent Sonny Gray to the Red Sox.

Quad Cities starter Emmanuel Reyes tossed five frames, allowing two runs on three hits while walking two and striking out seven.

In the sixth, with two on and two out, Flores’ second double of the game scored Caden Ferraro from second to tie the game at three. Kross attempted to score from first but stumbled between third and home and retreated to third, where he was later stranded.

After a lineout to begin the eighth inning, Dylan Driessen issued four consecutive walks, the last of which a bases-loaded free pass to Blake Mitchell that forced in Pedro Roque to give Quad Cities a 4-3 advantage.

On a 3-2 count with one out and the bases loaded, Chris Brito ripped a bases-clearing three-run double to right-center, extending the River Bandits’ lead to 7-3.

Flores blasted a no-doubt three-run homer to left in the bottom of the eighth, cutting the deficit to 7-6.

Gerardo Salas hit a batter with one out in the top of the ninth, but struck out the next two.

Down by one in the bottom of the ninth, Ryan Weingartner singled before Hernandez drew a two-out walk to put the tying run in scoring position. Ferraro then lined a ball to center, but Gonzalez made a running catch to end the game and Peoria’s bid for back-to-back walk-off wins.

Sunday’s series finale between the Chiefs and the River Bandits is set for 2:05 p.m.

Happy Birthday, Homer! Celebrate the Chiefs’ beloved mascot with an afternoon of family fun. Kids 12 and under receive $5 admission and can enjoy postgame base running, catch on the field and player autographs following the game, and maybe snag one from Homer too on his special day!

Tickets are available at PeoriaChiefs.com or at the Dozer Park box office.

Fans can watch the game on MiLB.TV and the Bally Sports Live app or listen to the game on PeoriaChiefs.com.