Four-Run Third Inning Enough to Lead Chiefs to Series Win

Beloit, WI- The Peoria Chiefs scored four times in the third inning Sunday and the bullpen did the rest in a 4-3 win over Beloit at ABC Supply Stadium. With the win, Peoria took four of six to take the series from the Sky Carp.

Peoria threatened in the first and put runners on second and third with one out against Beloit starter Alex Williams. The right-hander recorded a strikeout, a pop out and a ground out to work out of an early jam.

Two innings later, the Chiefs broke through in a big way, plating all four of their runs Sunday. With two outs in the inning, a Jimmy Crooks double scored Nathan Church to give Peoria the early 1-0 cushion. After a hit by pitch and a walk loaded the bases, Brody Moore took another free pass, scoring Crooks and bolstering the lead to 2-0. The next batter, Alex Iadisernia, lofted a single into right field to score two more and double the lead to 4-0.

Starter Zane Mills went back to the mound and twirled a quick 1-2-3 third for Peoria. After rolling early, the Sky Carp got on the board in the home half of the fourth. With a runner aboard at second, Jake Thompson connected on his 13th homer of the season, a two-run shot to right, to cut the Peoria lead in half.

Mills surrendered a third run in the fifth as the Sky Carp continued to creep back into the contest. Following a wild pitch and a passed ball, Joe Mack brought home a run with a sac fly into shallow left. Mills did allow any additional damage and left in line for the win.

In the bottom of the sixth, Peoria turned to Trent Baker in relief. Baker was originally scheduled to start Saturday’s contest but was scratched Saturday afternoon. The right-hander worked around a walk in the sixth, a one-out double in the seventh, and retired the side in order in the eighth.

Baker returned to the mound to start the home ninth but found himself in a jam following a hit by pitch and an infield single. After a meeting on the mound, Baker stood in to face pinch-hitter Cristhian Rodriguez. The newly-entered batter spun a bunt in front of home plate, allowing Jimmy Crooks to quickly pounce on the ball and throw out the lead runner at third base.

With one away in the ninth, manager Patrick Anderson turned to Andrew Marrero with the tying run on base at second and the winning run aboard at first. Marrero punched out Osiris Johnson and then retired Javier Sanoja on a chopper back to the mound. Sanoja was 0-for-4 Sunday after a five-hit effort on Saturday.

Marrero’s save was his 11th of the season to increase his team lead. Mills’ win was his fifth of the 2023 campaign.

The Chiefs moved back to a season-high eight games over .500 with the win. Following a day off, Peoria will begin a six-game series in Eastlake, Ohio against the Lake County Captains on Tuesday.