Bandits win rain-shortened game, 3-2, over Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids (2-6 second half, 34-44 overall) had tied the game, 2-2, in the top of the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Gary Mitchell, and River Bandits left-hander Hector Hernandez (5-4) retired Kernels catcher Zach Wright with a runner at third base to end the inning with the score still tied.
With one out in the bottom half of the fifth inning, Quad Cities left fielder Virgil Hill drew a walk and advanced from first base to third base on a single by center fielder Nick Martini. That extra base was magnified when Reynolds committed a balk with River Bandits second baseman Colin Walsh at the plate. Martini advanced to second, and Hill scored the go-ahead run. With Walsh in a 1-2 count, the game was halted due to lightning that preceded the rain.
The game became official when Quad Cities, as the home team, had scored more runs in four and a fraction of innings than Cedar Rapids, the visiting team, had scored in five full innings. The River Bandits' last official rain-shortened game was at Peoria on Aug. 10, 2010, when Quad Cities' 6-2, sixth-inning lead was upheld as the final official score.
The Kernels took their only lead in the top of the third inning, when left fielder Zach Borenstein hit a one-out solo home run off the batter's eye beyond the center-field fence. Hernandez then allowed back-to-back singles before striking out first baseman Frazier Hall and getting Mitchell on a flyout to left field. Hernandez finished five innings, allowed eight hits and two runs - one earned - while walking one batter and striking out four. He won for the first time since May 26 at Cedar Rapids. Each of his last three wins have come against the Kernels.
The River Bandits (5-3, 40-37) answered in the bottom of the fourth inning, when third baseman Stephen Piscotty got his first professional hit on a one-hopper under the glove of Kernels shortstop Eric Stamets. The hit was also the first of the game for the River Bandits. Designated hitter Anthony Garcia then drove a triple off the center-field fence to tie the game. Two batters later, Garcia scored on an RBI single by first baseman Roberto De La Cruz that put the River Bandits up 2-1.
Martini's fifth-inning single was the last of four by the River Bandits against Reynolds (0-3), who was charged with three earned runs in 4 1/3 innings while walking two and striking out five.
Quad Cities is 9-4 in the last 13 games - all of which have been decided by three runs or fewer. The River Bandits will seek their third series sweep of the season at 7 p.m. Saturday night, when left-hander Kyle Hald (3-4) faces Kernels right-hander Frank DeJiulio (3-2).
UP NEXT: The first bobblehead of the season will be given away Saturday night at Modern Woodmen Park. The first 2,000 fans through the gates will receive the likeness of former Iowa State wrestler Cael Sanderson. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and there will be a pregame concert presented by 101.3 KISS-FM. Fireworks will follow the game on John Deere Night. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at 563-322-6348 (563-3-BANDIT) and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: After four years of ballpark improvements, the River Bandits and the City of Davenport last summer unveiled some of the most impressive enhancements to Modern Woodmen Park yet. A brand new, state of the art, high definition 20' x 35' video board went live on June 7, and the newly enclosed glass Sky Deck on the suite level of Modern Woodmen Park was completed last August. Those improvements, in addition to new flood protection, a new front plaza, and a new parking lot directly across the street from the ballpark, are quickly making Modern Woodmen Park one of the premier facilities in all of Minor League Baseball. More improvements are scheduled for this coming season!