Chiefs Salvage Finale in 10 Innings

Appleton, WI- Thomas Francisco’s two-out single in the top of the 10th inning delivered the decisive blow in a seesaw affair Sunday. Francisco’s knock plated Nathan Church and lifted the Chiefs to a 6-5 win in 10 innings.

In the top of the second, the Chiefs drew first blood. With Ramon Mendoza at first base, Luis Rodriguez doubled into the left field corner. Mendoza turned on the jets and motored all the way around the bases to give Peoria an early 1-0 lead.

An inning later, Wisconsin tied the score. After Chiefs starter Tink Hence swiftly retired the first six batters he faced, Je’Von Ward connected on an opposite field home run to even the score at 1-1.

From there, both starters found their rhythm. In what was a pitching rematch from Tuesday, Hence allowed just two hits as he worked a career-high five innings on Sunday. Wisconsin starter Alexander Cornielle scattered just three hits over his five innings on the bump.

In the top of the sixth, the Peoria offense briefly put Hence in line for the win. With Aaron McKeithan aboard at first, the Chiefs deployed a hit and run. Osvaldo Tovalin lined the ball into the left field corner to allow McKeithan to score from first, pushing the Chiefs lead to 2-1. Then, following a Ramon Mendoza walk, Rodriguez delivered again. The catcher tripled to the gap in right center to score both Peoria runners and make it a 4-1 contest. For Rodriguez, it was his first triple since 2019.

In the home half, however, Wisconsin responded quickly. Brewers shortstop Willy Adames, who rehabbed for the Timber Rattlers Sunday, mashed a home run off of Zane Mills to cut the deficit to 4-2. Each of the next four batters singled, with RBIs to Ben Metzinger and Eduardo Garcia to knot the game at 4-4.

Peoria wasted no time jumping back in front in the seventh. Victor Scott led off the inning with a triple and later scored on a Darlin Moquete sac fly.

Reliever Matt Hickey pitched a scoreless seventh but surrendered the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Garcia’s one-out double to right center scored Metzinger to again tie the game, this time at 5-5. Nathanael Heredia entered the fray and gave up a single to Ward to put runners on the corners. The next batter, Ernesto Martinez, hit a roller towards second. Peoria’s Francisco Hernandez couldn’t handle the chance but he deflected the ball towards Mendoza at short to start up an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.

After the teams traded zeroes in the ninth, it was Francisco who turned out to be the hero. His knock gave Peoria a late lead that they did not relinquish. After getting two outs in the ninth, Gustavo Rodrgiuez set down Wisconsin in order in the 10th to earn his fourth win of the season.

The Chiefs are off on Monday. They kick off a six-game homestand against the Beloit SkyCarp on Tuesday.