River Bandits pull away from Chiefs with four-run sixth

A four-run sixth inning helped the River Bandits pull away for a 7-2 win over the Chiefs Wednesday night at Dozer Park.

With the loss, the Chiefs have dropped two straight after last week's sweep at Cedar Rapids and fall to 19-18 in the second half.

In the top of the first, Blake Mitchell hit his third home run in two games against the Chiefs, a solo shot to left-center that gave Quad Cities a 1-0 lead.

With one out in the bottom of the first, Josh Kross reached on a throwing error before Cade McGee was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Michael Dattalo drove in Kross with an opposite-field RBI single, tying the game at one.

In the second, Quad Cities reclaimed the lead, 2-1, on Tyriq Kemp’s sacrifice fly that scored Derlin Figueroa after a leadoff walk.

The River Bandits added another run in the fourth on Kemp’s solo home run to extend their lead to 3-1.

Peoria starter Ty Van Dyke tossed 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out four.

Dylan Driessen recorded the final out of the fifth before Quad Cities broke the game open with a four-run sixth.

Driessen issued two walks, and both runners scored on Hyungchan Um’s two-run double to make it 5-1. After Asbel Gonzalez reached on a throwing error by third baseman Michael Dattalo, Um advanced to third and later scored when Driessen’s pickoff throw to first skipped into right. Gonzalez capped the scoring in the inning on a wild pitch, extending the River Bandits’ lead to 7-1.

In the seventh, Peoria scored the final run of the game when Tommy Molsky was called for a balk, allowing Sammy Hernandez to score from third with Jalin Flores at the plate, making it 7-2.

Thursday’s contest is set for 6:35 p.m. between the Chiefs and the River Bandits.

Gear up for the weekend with $2 domestic draft beers, $2 sodas and $4 craft beers. It’s the final Bark in the Park of the week and the second of four consecutive nights of postgame fireworks.

Tickets are available at PeoriaChiefs.com or at the Dozer Park box office.

Fans can watch the game on MiLB.TV and the Bally Sports Live app or listen here.