Bandits’ Hot Streak Extinguished by Chiefs in 4-3 Loss

Peoria, Illinois – Despite out-hitting the opposition, the Quad Cities River Bandits saw their four-game win streak snapped on Wednesday as they fell to the Peoria Chiefs 4-3 at Dozer Park.

Pitching controlled the first third of the contest and saw Bandits’ starter A.J. Block, making his first start of the season, and the Chiefs’ Nick Trogrlic-Iverson post scoreless frames through the first three innings.

The offense broke through for both squads in the third and began when Q.C. took the lead on a Michael Massey sacrifice fly that plated Vinnie Pasquantino—who started the inning with a leadoff double. In the bottom half, a bases-clearing two-run double by Francisco Hernandez gave the Chiefs the 2-1 lead and chased Block after 3.2 innings pitched.

The two-baggers continued to fly in the fifth as Trogrlic-Iverson worked around Eric Cole’s double in the top half, but, after recording the final out of the fourth, Christian Chamberlain surrendered Peoria’s third run on a double by John Torres that scored Imeldo Diaz from first and made the game 3-1.

Quad Cities was finally able to knockout Trogrlic-Iverson after Tyler Gentry’s leadoff walk and Massey’s double in the top of the sixth and tied the game 3-3 in the top of the seventh against Cole Aker on Jeison Guzman’s third home run of the year.

Having set down nine-straight including six strikeouts to conclude his day, Chamberlain handed the ball to Mitch Ellis for the eighth who, after allowing back-to-back singles to Moises Castillo and Pedro Pages to start the inning, struck out Brady Whalen for the first out. Then, the Bandits’ opted to intentionally walk Chandler Redmond to load the bases; which would prove costly as Ellis hit Zade Richardson with a pitch to score Peoria’s go-ahead run.

Ellis was able to limit the damage and strand the bases loaded to conclude the eighth, but Leonardo Taveras would seal the save and the win for the Chiefs after getting Guzman to bounce into a double play in the ninth to snap Quad Cities’ win streak.

In his first start of the season, Block gave the Bandits’ 3.2 innings of work and gave up two runs while striking out five, while Ellis (0-1) took the loss for Quad Cities after one inning of relief.

Trogrlic-Iverson gave Peoria a quality start thanks to allowing just two runs in 5.0 innings with four strikeouts, however it was Aker (3-1) who got the win after three frames of one-run ball.

With the series now tied, the River Bandits will send Angel Zerpa (3-0, 2.43) to the mound in game three on Thursday, while Peoria will counter with Jack Ralston (1-2, 2.59). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CDT.