Quad Cities Sweeps Doubleheader Behind Pair of Big Innings

DAVENPORT, IA– The Quad Cities River Bandits used a three-run fifth inning in game one and a five-run fourth in Wednesday’s nightcap to sweep a doubleheader from the Peoria Chiefs, winning 7-2 and 6-3.

GAME ONE:

A quick start wasn’t enough for Peoria to cash in a game one win, a 7-2 to Quad Cities in Wednesday’s double feature.

A first inning run jolted the Chiefs to an early lead. With Won-Bin Cho at second base, switch hitter Leonardo Bernal smashed a single through the right side to plate Cho and give starter Inohan Paniagua an early 1-0 lead.

Paniagua did not allow a run in last week’s home opener and cruised through two clean innings to begin his night on Wednesday.

In the home half of the third, Carter Jensen delivered a long two-run homer to right field, giving Quad Cities a 2-1 advantage. The long ball reared its head an inning later when Jack Pineda connected on his first home run of the season, a two-run blast to the opposite field, to extend the lead to 4-1.

Peoria quickly responded with a run in the top of the fifth. An Anyelo Encarnacion was followed by a Cho double to cut the deficit to 4-2. The rally stalled, however, after Cho was picked off of second base.

The Bandits broke it open in the fifth, taking advantage of some shoddy Peoria defense. After a walk to Trevor Werner, Paniagua’s pick-off throw went awry, allowing Werner to motor all the way to third. A Brett Squires single promptly scored him to make it a 5-2 ballgame. After a hit batsman, Paniagua was lifted from the game for Tyler Bradt. The right-hander whiffed Kale Emshoff but a two-run single from Pineda created the final margin, 7-2.

Paniagua was charged with all seven runs in Wednesday’s opener and was tagged with the loss. Quad Cities starter Hunter Owen worked through five innings to qualify for the win. The former Vanderbilt star now has two wins in two professional starts.

GAME TWO:

Quad Cities sent nine men to the plate in the home half of the fourth inning in Wednesday’s nightcap to secure a 6-3 victory and a doubleheader sweep.

Brycen Mautz took the ball for the Chiefs in game two. The St. Louis Cardinals No. 20 prospect surrendered back-to-back hits to begin his night when Trevor Werner laced a solid single to right. A run scored on the play, but right fielder Darin Moquete cut down Carter Jensen at the plate to save a run.

After falling into a 1-0 hole, Mautz settled in. The southpaw twirled a quick 1-2-3 second inning and later stranded a pair of runners in the third.

Peoria tied the score in the top half of the fourth inning with a two-out rally. Brody Moore connected on one of his two hits in the nightcap, a solid single to center. Two pitches later, Osvaldo Tovalin doubled off the left wall to plate Moore all the way from first.

The 1-1 deadlock was brief as the Bandits posted a crooked number in the fourth. A double, single and hit by pitch loaded the bases for Dustin Dickerson. The 2023 draftee singled through the left side to give Quad Cities a 2-1 lead. Mautz responded with a strikeout but could not limit the damage any further. Carson Roccaforte lined a solid single into center, one of his three hits to push the lead to 4-1. A Jensen single made it a 5-1 game. Mautz finished the inning with a strikeout and a flyout but a wild pitch scored Roccaforte, giving Quad Cities a 6-1 cushion.

The Chiefs forced starter Oscar Rayo’s exit from the contest after four solid innings of work in the nightcap. Then, Peoria fought back against the River Bandits bullpen. Three walks loaded the bases for William Sullivan who was hit by a pitch. His hard-earned RBI made it a 6-2 game.

In the sixth, Peoria had its best opportunity of the night. After a Tovalin walk and a Darlin Moquete double, a wild pitch scored Tovalin and a walk to Carlos Linarez brought the top of the order to the plate as the game’s tying run. After Parker Harm punched out Cho, the Bandits turned to Brandon Johnson. The lockdown closer whiffed Dakota Harris and Zach Levenson to spoil the rally. Johnson struck out the side in the seventh to end the game.

Johnson, who appeared to have locked down a five-out save, was awarded the win by virtue of being the club’s most effective reliever. Mautz was tagged with the loss for Peoria. The southpaw is 0-2 over his first two High-A starts.

The series continues Thursday when Cooper Hjerpe, the Cardinals No. 6 prospect, takes the baseball for Peoria. He will be opposed by Ben Kudrna, the No. 3 prospect in the Kansas City Royals system.