Despite two homers from Sammy Hernandez, the Chiefs fell 7-3 to the Quad Cities River Bandits, who rode two homers from Blake Mitchell and four long balls overall Tuesday night at Dozer Park.
With the loss, the Chiefs have snapped a six-game win streak and fall to 19-17 in the second half.
After a 1-2-3 first inning from Peoria starter Jacob Odle, Quad Cities changed its fortune in the second with three runs on four hits. Chris Brito and Jose Cerice each hit a solo home run before Angel Acosta followed with an RBI double after a Tyriq Kemp single to make it 3-0.
Peoria got a run back in the third inning thanks to Sammy Hernandez’s solo home run to left field, making it 3-1.
Odle ended up allowing three runs on five hits in his four innings, walking two and striking out eight. He’s struck out at least eight batters in seven of his 19 starts with Low-A Palm Beach and Peoria this season.
In the fifth, Blake Mitchell hit Quad Cities’ third solo homer of the night, a laser to right-center, before Chris Brito walked and later scored on a Jawilme Ramirez wild pitch, extending its lead to 5-1.
The River Bandits added another in the seventh when Mitchell sent a no-doubt solo shot to right-center, his second homer of the game, giving them a 6-1 advantage.
Brito followed with a single and later scored on a throwing error by catcher Sammy Hernandez while attempting to catch a runner stealing second, lengthening the lead to 7-1.
Yordalin Peña collected his first High-A hit, a leadoff double, in the bottom of the seventh.
Quad Cities reliever Rob Hensey was excellent, tossing four scoreless innings of two-hit ball while striking out three and walking none.
Kamden Edge replaced Hensey in the ninth and allowed a two-run homer to Hernandez, his second long ball of the game, cutting the Chiefs’ deficit to 7-3. The performance marked the Chiefs’ 10th two-home run game of the season and Hernandez’s first multi-homer game with Peoria.
Both teams combined to go 1-for-21 with runners in scoring position. Peoria stranded seven runners while Quad Cities left eight aboard.
Wednesday’s first pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. between the Chiefs and the River Bandits.
Stretch your dollar with $2 hot dogs and $2 nachos all game long. Dozer Park welcomes churches and community groups to the game for Faith and Family Night, while dogs are welcome for the second straight day before fireworks cap off the evening.
Tickets are available for purchase 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 on PeoriaChiefs.com.