Seven-Run Third Lifts Dayton Past Peoria

DAYTON, OH - After a most unusual one hour and 32-minute weather delay, Dayton did all of their damage in the third inning Thursday to beat the Chiefs 7-3 from Day Air Ballpark.

Prior to first pitch in Dayton, the tarp was deployed and the game started in a weather delay. Despite gray skies overhead, the rains never came and the game was able to start at 8:37 EST.

Once the game was underway, the starting pitchers were crisp early. Peoria’s Wilfredo Pereira traded a pair of early zeroes with Dayton right-hander Thomas Farr.

In the third, Dayton plated all seven of their runs as they sent 10 batters to the plate against Pereira. After Justice Thompson led off the frame with a double, the Dragons followed with four consecutive singles, including RBI’s from Brian Rey and Tyler Callihan to make it a 2-0 ballgame. Later in the inning, a bases loaded walk extended the Dayton lead to 3-0. With the bases still loaded, Jose Torres delivered what turned out to be the decisive blow. A grand slam to left center completed the onslaught and made it a 7-0 game.

Peoria responded with two quick runs of their own in the fourth, in large part due to a pair of Dayton errors. LJ Jones and Tyler Reichenborn scored the Peoria tallies.

In the sixth, Reichenborn provided a jolt to the Chiefs offense. The Peoria outfielder launched his seventh homer of the year, a no-doubter to left field, to pull the Chiefs within 7-3.

The Chiefs were unable to get any closer but the bullpen gave the team a chance for a late rally. Nick Trogrlic-Iverson twirled three scoreless innings while Chris Roycroft recorded a pair of spotless frames. Roycroft punched out a career-high four batters in the process.

The series continues Friday from Dayton. Right-hander Zane Mills is set to toe the slab for Peoria. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 EST/6:05 CST.