Bandits Lose Early Lead, Drop Opening Series
Second baseman Luis Mateo doubled and tripled for the Quad Cities (1-2), and right fielder Roberto Reyes added two hits in his first start. The Cougars (2-1) had 13 hits, led by three each from Watts and second baseman Justin Trapp, who also hit his first home run of the season.
Cougars starter Kellen Moen lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs, one earned, and struck out nine River Bandits in his first start of the season. Todd McInnis, the River Bandits starter, pitched five innings, allowing seven hits and two runs while striking out four.
The Quad Cities broke onto the scoreboard in the second inning. With two outs, third baseman Tyler Rahmatulla struck out on a wild pitch that allowed him to reach first. A second wild pitch by Moen allowed Rahmatulla to advance to second before he scored on Mateo's triple. Mateo later scored when a ground ball by Quad Cities catcher Jesus Montero was misplayed by Trapp.
Trapp atoned for his error with a one-out homer to the berm beyond left field in the next half inning off River Bandits starter Todd McInnis to make it 2-1.
Kane County tied it in the fifth when Watts hit a leadoff double, and left fielder Tim Ferguson beat McInnis to first base on a ball hit to first baseman Roberto De La Cruz. McInnis struck out Trapp, but Daniel Mateo singled to right to tie the game 2-2.
The River Bandits retook the lead in the next half inning. Mateo hit a leadoff double, advanced on a passed ball and scored on a Nick Martini groundout against reliever Matt Ridings (1-0), who allowed just one hit in 1 2/3 innings of relief following Moen.
Reliever Willy Paulino (0-1) began the sixth inning by walking Jorge Bonifacio, whom he later retired at third base with a throw from his knees on a ground ball by Cougars center fielder Lane Adams. Paulino then fired a pickoff throw past De La Cruz, allowing Adams to advance to third. Cougars shorstop Orlando Calixte tied the game with a triple to right, and Watts followed with two-run shot to right. Paulino was charged with three runs allowed in his first Quad Cities appearance.
The Cougars added single runs in the seventh and eighth on singles by Bonifacio and Trapp off of Ethan Cole to make it 7-3. The River Bandits advanced one base runner to third in the last four innings and where retired without a hit by Nick Graffeo, who pitched the ninth inning in both Cougars wins in the series.
UP NEXT: The River Bandits hit the road for seven games at Peoria and Cedar Rapids but will return to Modern Woodmen Park Monday, April 16, which will be the first Buck Night of the season presented by Klement's and 97X. A full menu of $1 items will be available. Get your tickets now to watch the River Bandits in 2012. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at (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!