PEORIA, IL – The West Michigan Whitecaps were two outs away from victory on two different occasions, but game-tying and game-winning home runs in the ninth and tenth innings led to an 8-7, 10-inning loss to the Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Park on Wednesday.
West Michigan left 12 runners on
PEORIA, IL – The West Michigan Whitecaps were two outs away from victory on two different occasions, but game-tying and game-winning home runs in the ninth and tenth innings led to an 8-7, 10-inning loss to the Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Park on Wednesday.
West Michigan left 12 runners on base, including six in the final two innings, going 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position, while the Chiefs went 6-for-11 in similar opportunities. The Whitecaps loss, combined with wins by the three closest teams in the Midwest League Eastern Division standings in Fort Wayne, Dayton, and Lake County, watch their first-place lead now stand at 1.5 games.
Wednesday’s contest opened with the Whitecaps scoring the first run, as Eliezer Alfonzo delivered a run-scoring double with two outs in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. In the third, the Chiefs plated three runs, highlighted by Jimmy Crooks’ two-run double to take a 3-1 lead. After the ‘Caps tallied single runs in the sixth and seventh to tie the game, the Chiefs took the lead when Crooks delivered an RBI-single for his third hit to give Peoria a 4-3 lead. In the eighth, Brady Allen blasted a game-tying home run to even the contest at four before Josh Crouch gave the ‘Caps the lead with an RBI-double. The score remained the same until Ramon Mendoza tied the game with a solo home run with one out in the ninth off West Michigan reliever Dario Gardea to tie the game at five. In the tenth, Austin Murr delivered a two-run single to give the ‘Caps a 7-5 lead, but Alex Iadisernia collected the swing of the night with a three-run walk-off home run off Gardea to give the Chiefs a stunning 8-7 victory.
The Whitecaps fell to 61-53 overall and 29-20 in the second half, while the Chiefs improved to 61-55 and 28-22 in the second half. Gardea (1-4) suffers his fourth loss of the year, while the Chiefs Andrew Marrero (4-7) collects his fourth win. Luke Gold enjoyed a four-hit game for the second straight contest in a losing cause.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue this six-game series at Dozer Park against the Peoria Chiefs on Thursday at 7:35 pm. Pitchers Jackson Jobe and Ian Bedell take the mound for the Whitecaps and Chiefs. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 7:25 pm. Get your tickets for all 2023 home games now at www.whitecapsbaseball.com.