Chiefs Fall in Extra Innings Despite Late Heroics

Peoria, IL- Despite a game-tying, pinch-hit home run by Osvaldo Tovalin in the ninth to force extra innings, the Chiefs were unable to come away with the win as Great Lakes scored four 10th inning runs to defeat the Chiefs 7-4 Wednesday at Dozer Park.

Tovalin came off the bench to pinch hit in the ninth with Peoria trailing 3-2. He sent the second pitch he saw from Antonio Knowles over the right field wall to tie the game at three.

But the Loons had an answer in the extra frame. With the ghost runner on second, Andrew Marrero walked Austin Gauthier. Alfredo Ruiz entered out of the bullpen and was greeted by an Alex Freeland double to make it 4-3. Taylor Young followed with a two-run single to double the lead. Young later scored on a fielder’s choice to make it 7-3.

Knowles earned the win while Marrero took the loss. Aldry Acosta, who allowed the ghost runner to score on a wild pitch in the bottom of the tenth, recorded the final three outs to close the door on a 7-4 final margin.

The Loons started the offense loudly in the first against Chiefs starter Tink Hence. The right-hander walked Gauthier to open the game. Freeland followed with a single. That set up a Damon Keith three-run home run to give Great Lakes an early 3-0 advantage.

Freeland had a career-high three hits, going 3-for-5 with an RBI.

Hence settled in the rest of the way but reached his pitch count after just three innings. The right-hander punched out five Great Lakes batters.

Peoria got a run back in the first off Ronan Kopp. After Darlin Moquete doubled for his first High-A hit, Aaron McKeithan drove him home with a single to make the deficit 3-1.

That was the only damage done against Kopp, who hurled four innings, giving up three hits, walking one and striking out four.

Edgar Manzo relieved Hence in the fourth and kept the Chiefs within striking distance. Manzo threw four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two.

The Chiefs made it a one run game in the seventh. Jeremy Rivas singled off Robbie Peto to start the inning. After a flyout, Thomas Francisco drove a double into the right field corner, allowing Rivas to score from first to make it a 3-2 ballgame.

For the second straight night, Nathan Church was the lone Chief with multiple hits, going 2-for-4.

The Chiefs fall to 21-20, while the Loons improve to 26-15. Game three of the series is set for tomorrow at 6:35 P.M.