Odle’s 12 strikeouts, Bissetta’s 3 RBIs lead Chiefs past Bandits

Behind Jacob Odle’s career-high 12 strikeouts and three RBIs from Tristan Bissetta, the Chiefs defeated the River Bandits 5-3 Thursday night at Dozer Park, preventing Quad Cities from clinching a second-half West Division title for the second straight night.

With the victory, the Chiefs improved to 29-32 in the second half and have won back-to-back games.

Odle struck out seven over the first three innings while he walked a batter with two outs in each of the first three frames.

Quad Cities led first when Jose Cerice sent a two-run homer to left-center in the fourth to give Quad Cities a 2-0 lead. All three home runs Odle has allowed since June 28 have come against Quad Cities.

The Chiefs bounced back with a two-out rally in the bottom half. Yordalin Peña doubled before Tristan Bissetta hit a routine fly ball to center field, but center fielder Asbel Gonzalez lost it in the lights. Peña scored and Bissetta stood up at second with an RBI double, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Anyelo Encarnación then belted a two-run shot to deep left, jumping Peoria in front 3-2.

That was the final inning for River Bandits southpaw David Shields, who gave up three runs on three hits while he struck out five and walked none in four innings.

Odle punctuated his five-inning outing by striking out the side in the fifth to finish with 12 strikeouts – the first Chief to do so since Brycen Mautz in August 2024. He allowed two runs on two hits and walked three.

Bissetta did more two-out damage in the sixth, blasting a two-run home run off the batter’s eye to extend the Chiefs’ lead to 5-2.

In the top of the eighth, a walk and an error put two runners on before Dylan Driessen’s wild pitch brought in a run on Blake Mitchell’s walk, trimming Peoria’s lead to 5-3. Ramon Ramirez then rolled into an inning-ending double play to leave two stranded.

Quad Cities put two runners aboard in the top of the ninth, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate, but Rubén Menes struck out Stone Russell to end the game.

Friday’s contest between the Chiefs and River Bandits begins at 7:05 p.m.

The first 1,000 fans receive a Chiefs-themed spooky T-shirt giveaway for Fright Night.

It’s the last Family Friday night of the season, featuring four tickets and two small pizza coupons to Firehouse Pizza & Pub for just $50. Stick around after the final out for postgame fireworks.

Tickets are available 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 at PeoriaChiefs.com.