Behind a six-run third inning, the Chiefs built an early lead and cruised to a 7-2 victory over the River Bandits on Wednesday night at Dozer Park.
With the win, the Chiefs evened the series at one game apiece and improved their second half record to 28-32.
Peoria took an early lead for the second straight night when Andrew Williamson led off the first with a double and scored on Jalin Flores’ RBI double, giving the Chiefs a 1-0 advantage.
Flores played his 110th game this season, the most by a Chief since 2023.
The Chiefs were all over Quad Cities’ starter Emmanuel Reyes in the third inning, scoring six runs on five hits.
Williamson drew a leadoff walk before Caden Ferraro blasted a two-run shot to right, extending Peoria’s lead to 3-0.
Flores followed with his second double of the night, making each of Peoria’s first five hits extra-base hits, and Brayden Smith walked. With still nobody out, Yordalin Peña singled home Flores to extend the Chiefs’ lead to 4-0.
Two batters later, Anyelo Encarnación added an RBI base hit to lengthen Peoria’s advantage to 5-0.
Michael Dattalo then grounded into a force out to score another run before Williamson capped the six-run frame with an RBI single, pushing the Chiefs’ lead to 7-0.
Reyes exited after the Williamson single, allowing seven runs on seven hits while he walked three and struck out three.
In the fourth, Ramon Ramirez hit a two-run homer off Brandon Clarke, the first long ball Clarke has allowed in five starts with Peoria, cutting the Chiefs’ lead to 7-2.
Clarke went 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits while he walked one and struck out six.
Both bullpens kept things scoreless the rest of the way. Nelfy Ynfante, Trey Pooser, Liam Best and Patrick Galle combined for 5.1 scoreless innings.
Flores finished 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI, while Williamson recorded his second three-hit game as a professional.
The Chiefs and River Bandits play game three Thursday at 6:35 p.m.
Get the weekend started early with $2 domestic draft beers, $2 sodas and $4 craft beers. It’s also the final Bark in the Park of the season and the first of three consecutive nights of postgame fireworks.
Tickets are available at PeoriaChiefs.com or the Dozer Park box office.
Fans can watch the game on MiLB.TV and the Bally Sports Live app or listen on PeoriaChiefs.com.