Castillo, Bandits Strong Enough to get by Kernels
Left-handed reliever Danny Miranda loaded the bases with a one-run lead and one out in the ninth inning but struck out Kernels left fielder Ryan Jones and got designated hitter Abel Baker to ground out to first base to end the game and give Miranda his first save.
Castillo, who hit two home runs all of last season in 70 games between three minor league levels, tied the game 1-1 with a one-out home run in the third inning. The Quad Cities took the lead in the fourth, when left fielder Anthony Garcia drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch by Kernels left-handed starter Ryan Crowley, and scored on an RBI double by designated hitter Colin Walsh, who finished with two doubles and a triple in five at-bats. Two batters later, third baseman Tyler Rahmatulla hit a two-out single to right field that brought in Walsh and made it 3-1.
The Kernels answered in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI double by first baseman Frazier Hall. Cedar Rapids then loaded the bases to put the tying run at third with two outs, but McInnis got shortstop Wendell Soto to ground into a fielder's choice at second base to preserve the 3-2 lead.
Castillo quickly restored the two-run lead with a homer to center field leading off the fifth against Crowley (0-1), who allowed four runs on five hits in five innings. The two home runs by Castillo set a single-game career high for the River Bandits catcher.
In the sixth, Medina gave McInnis and the River Bandits more breathing room with an opposite-field, two-run home run to left field off left-handed reliever Carmine Giardina that also brought home Walsh and made it 6-2. The home run was the fourth in the last two nights for the Quad Cities, which went nearly a full week without homering after an Opening Day home run by Walsh, who also hit the team's second home run of the season Thursday night in Cedar Rapids.
McInnis (1-0) allowed an RBI double to Kernels second baseman Kevin Moesquit in the seventh inning, but finished with two walks, seven hits and three runs allowed while striking out five batters in seven innings. Right-hander Robert Stock entered with a 6-3 lead and allowed runners to reach second and third in the eighth but escaped the threat by striking out right fielder Andy Workman.
In the ninth, Stock allowed one-out singles to Soto and Moesquit before giving way to Miranda. Kernels center fielder Chevy Clarke and third baseman Kaleb Cowart each singled against Miranda, with Cowart's hit bringing home two runs to make it 6-5. A wild pitch moved runners to second and third, prompting an intentional walk of Hall before Miranda got the final two batters.
The River Bandits have won four of the first five games on their current seven-game road trip. Saturday night will be their third of four games in Cedar Rapids, as left-hander Kyle Hald (0-0) and Kernels right-hander Jairo Diaz (0-0) will each make their second starts.
UP NEXT: All non-suite tickets to each game of next week's home stand are just $5, as the River Bandits host the Clinton LumberKings Monday through Wednesday, April 16-18. Monday is the first Buck Night of the season presented by Klement's and 97X. A full menu of $1 items will be available. 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!