PEORIA, ILLINOIS (June 4, 2019) — The Peoria Chiefs hit three home-runs and scored multiple runs in four different innings on their way to a 12-5 series-opening win over the Quad Cities River Bandits on Tuesday night at Dozer Park. Juan Yepez, playing in his first game of the season, went 4-4 with two home runs and seven runs batted in to lead the Chiefs.
Yepez did his first damage in his first at-bat of the season, tying the game at three with a long home-run to left-center off of Jose Bravo in the second inning. An RBI groundout from Brendan Donovan later in the frame made it 4-3 in Peoria’s favor.
The designated hitter came up big for the Chiefs (25-31) again to cap off a three-run third inning. Nolan Gorman opened the inning with a double and scored on Brady Whalen’s RBI single to make it 5-3. Yepez homered to the same part of the park in the next at-bat to increase the lead to 7-3. A Brendan Donovan solo blast in the fourth widened the gap even further to 8-3.
The River Bandits (35-19) moved within three after a Ross Adolph two-run home-run to right-center in the sixth. The long-ball was his third of the season. However, the lead grew back to five when the Chiefs answered with two more runs in the top of the seventh. In the eighth, the Chiefs increased the lead one final time on a two-RBI single by Yepez.
The Bandits held a 3-0 lead after one inning of play on the strength of an RBI single from David Hensley and a two-run base hit off the bat of Trey Dawson. Adolph was the only member of the River Bandits with multiple hits. Jeremy Pena had his hit streak ended at 15 games with an 0-4 day at the plate. Whalen and Denton each had three hits for Peoria while Donovan also tallied a pair.
Bravo took the loss after allowing seven runs over 3.0 innings of work. He allowed six hits and walked a pair. Each of the three relievers for the Bandits allowed at least one run in their outings.
The series continues on Wednesday with a first pitch at 6:35PM. The River Bandits have not announced their starting pitcher at this time while Peoria will toss RHP Mike Brettell (1-2, 4.44).
Peoria (R-H-E): 12-13-3
Quad Cities (R-H-E): 5-8-0
Win: Schmid (3-1)
Loss: Bravo (0-1)
Save: None
HR: Peoria: Juan Yepez 2 (1, 2nd inning, 2 on base) (2, 3rd inning, 0 on base), Brendan Donovan (4, 4th inning, 0 on base)
HR: Quad Cities: Ross Adolph (3, 6th inning, 1 on base)
All River Bandits games are broadcast on 1170 K-BOB and TuneIn Radio. Home games are also available with video on MiLB.TV.
