Chiefs Snap Skid Behind Power Surge, Heredia's Gem

DAVENPORT, IA– The Peoria Chiefs snapped their six-game losing streak Sunday on the strength of a pair of two-run homers to best the Quad Cities River Bandits 4-2 at Modern Woodmen Park.

Zach Levenson homered in the third to give the Chiefs the lead. Then, Brody Moore’s go-ahead blast in the seventh proved to be the difference. Peoria’s offense pounded out a season high 11 hits Sunday and got 5 ⅔ scoreless from the bullpen to avoid the sweep.

Quad Cities started the scoring in the bottom of the first against spot starter Wilfredo Pereira. Carson Roccaforte singled, stole second and advanced to third on a ground ball with one out in the inning. Clean-up batter Brett Squires brought Roccaforte around with a sac fly to make it 1-0 Quad Cities.

Levenson’s home run didn’t come without a little drama. With the bases empty and two men out, Won-Bin Cho hit a pop up on the left side of the infielder. The ball dropped between third baseman Deivis Nadal and shortstop Dustin Dickerson to extend the inning. Levenson drove the first pitch he saw from Shane Panzini over the wall in left center to give the Chiefs a 2-1 lead. For Peoria, it was their first run off of a Bandits starter since Sunday.

Quad Cities tied the game in the fourth, but it was Nathanael Heredia who limited the damage. Heredia entered for Pereira with one out in the inning and runners on the corners. Left fielder Jean Ramirez bunted towards first base in an effort to score the go-ahead run. Peoria’s Osvaldo Tovalin shoveled to the plate in time to cut down Jared Dickey. Then, Dickerson was thrown out at second after taking a wide turn around the bag.

Moore’s seventh-inning homer off of Cooper McKeehan was only his second High-A blast in 53 career games with the Chiefs. Moore finished the day with a pair of hits, his fourth multi-hit effort of the season.

After a dramatic escape early in his outing, Nathanael Heredia cruised on Sunday. The big southpaw carved up a Quad Cities lineup littered with left-handed batters. Heredia whiffed four over 3 ⅔ scoreless innings.

With the lead 4-2, Joseph King entered out of the bullpen in an effort to record a six-out save. King scattered just one baserunner in his two innings to earn his third save and secure the victory for Heredia.

Following the traditional Monday off day, the Chiefs are back at Dozer Park on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.