Ramirez’s Homer Not Enough in Bandits’ Loss to Chiefs

Peoria, Illinois – Royals’ No. 7 prospect Ramon Ramirez launched his 13th home run of the season, but the Quad Cities River Bandits (68-55, 38-22) were unable to clinch a second-half title Wednesday, falling to the Peoria Chiefs (61-66, 29-32) at Dozer Park.

Despite the loss, Quad Cities’ magic number shrank to one during the night thanks to Wisconsin’s 4-3 win over Beloit at ABC Supply Stadium.

Peoria plated all seven of its runs against River Bandits’ starter Emmanuel Reyes, who after allowing an RBI-double to Jalin Flores in the first, surrendered a six-run third inning.

Caden Ferraro highlighted a string of five-straight Chiefs baserunners to begin the frame with a two-run homer, before RBI-singles from Yordalin Pena, Anyelo Encarnacion, Andrew Williamson, and an RBI-groundout off the bat of Michael Dattalo made it 7-0 Peoria.

Ramirez immediately made it a five-run game in the fourth against Chiefs’ starter Brandon Clarke, as the catcher plated Zion Rose with a two-run homer over the left-center berm. The blast marked Ramriez’s second since returning from the injured list on August 25.

Quad Cities’ bullpen also proved a bright spot in the loss, with Mason Miller (2.2 IP, 5 SO), Aiden Jimenez (2.0 IP), and Dash Albus (1.0 IP, 1 SO) combining for 5.2-scoreless innings in relief of the starter Reyes.

Peoria’s relief core proved just as effective though, with four different Chiefs arms holding the Bandits’ bats without a run and to just three total baserunners over the final 5.1 innings of the game.

Nelfy Ynfante (2-1) earned the win out of the Peoria bullpen, tossing a 1.1-scoreless innings in relief or Clarke, while Reyes (6-5) was saddled with the loss, allowing seven runs on seven hits, three walks, and three strikeouts over 2.1 innings.

Quad Cities can secure a second-half West Division title and punch its ticket to the 2026 Midwest League Playoffs with win or a Beloit loss tomorrow and sends David Shields (11-5, 3.91) to the mound opposite Jacob Odle (2-4, 3.88) for game three of the its six-game set at Dozer Park. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.