Chiefs Rally for Three in the Ninth, Take Series Opener 

Peoria, Ill. – The Great Lakes Loons (25-15) held the Peoria Chiefs (21-19) to no runs through the first eight innings, but a three hit three-run bottom of the ninth from the Chiefs propelled them to a 3-2 victory on an 86-degree Tuesday night at Dozer Park.

The Chiefs down 2-0 had their top of the lineup begin the bottom of the ninth. Victor Scott II led off with a single, and Darlin Moquete was hit by a pitch. Orlando Ortiz through his first three innings, allowed just one baserunner. Nathan Church, the Midwest League hits leader rifled a 1-1 pitch to right field to put a run on the board, and he moved to second after the throw went to third.

Ortiz was replaced by Michael Hobbs. Hobbs couldn’t hold off the Chiefs. An Aaron McKeithan sacrifice fly tied the score, and then Jimmy Crooks was intentionally walked. With runners on the corners with one out, Jeremy Rivas shocked the Loons by laying a bunt down the first base line, to win the ball game.

Maddux Bruns, the Loons starter was brilliant over four innings. After allowing two singles in the first, the left-hander sat down the next 10 in a row. Bruns punched out five batters and permitted just one walk, both season bests at the High-A level.

The Great Lakes offense ran into a great pitching performance from Cooper Hjerpe. The 2022 1st Round Pick breezed through six innings, not allowing a hit. The Loons did put on three in the third via an error, walk, and hit by pitch, but one of two inning-ending double plays kept the Loons scoreless.

Luis Diaz, with one out in the eighth, posted the Loons' first hit. He singled a ball that was slapped up the middle with no play for either the second baseman or shortstop. After a stolen base, Austin Gauthier delivered a two-out base knock a single to right field to give the Loons the game’s first run.

In the top of the ninth, Great Lakes added insurance, Ismael Alcantara sliced a ball to the right side of the infield. Alcantara applied pressure to the defense and stole second, a throwing error from catcher Jimmy Crooks moved Alcantara 90 feet away. Alex Freeland, the Loons leader in RBI, sent a single down the left-field line.

Orlando Ortiz denied the Chiefs for a third straight inning in the eighth, Thomas Francisco singled, the first Chiefs hit since the first inning. Francisco was caught stealing by Dalton Rushing. Peoria matched their hit total from the first eight innings in the bottom of the ninth. The Chiefs are now 15-7 at home.

Game two of the six-game series is tomorrow Wednesday, May 24th, first pitch is at 7:35 p.m. ET. Ronan Kopp gets the start for the Loons.

The Great Lakes Loons have been the Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team’s inception in 2007. Dow Diamond serves as the team’s home and also houses the Michigan Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, and ESPN 100.9-FM. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.