Quad Cities walks off 8-7, completes sweep of Cedar Rapids
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, third baseman Neal Pritchard drew a walk and was then lifted for pinch runner Luis Mateo. Matt Williams hit into a force out at second base for the second out of the inning. Nick Martini drew a walk, to put runners on first and second, with two outs. A wild pitch by Ty Kelley (3-1) allowed both runners to advance one base. Second baseman Colin Walsh was down in the count 0-2, when he hit a Kelley fastball up the middle and the throw from center fielder Andy Workman got away from catcher Zach Wright, allowing Martini to score the winning run from second.
With an inherited runner on second in the top of the ninth, reliever Ethan Cole allowed the next two batters to reach base - one via base hit and one via walk. Matt Williams made an error that allowed Trevor Hairgrove to reach as a run scored to make it a 6-2 game. A two-run single by Eric Stamets cut Quad Cities' lead to 6-4. A wild pitch with Kevin Moesquit at the plate prompted Hairgrove to break for home and he was called out on a close play at the plate for the first out of the inning. Moesquit reached two pitches later on a sharp single that Colin Walsh knocked down and kept in the infield. Quad Cities closer Heath Wyatt (3-2) came on to face Alex Yarbrough, who hit a game-tying, two run double off the right field wall. A sacrifice fly by Andy Workman capped the rally and gave the Kernels their first lead of the night, 7-6.
Quad Cities (6-3, 41-37) scored three runs in the bottom of the second off Kernels right-hander Frank De Jiulio. Designated hitter Stephen Piscotty drew a leadoff walk, and then stole second. After De Jiulio struck out Anthony Garcia, Juan Castillo drew a walk before first baseman Roberto De La Cruz was caught looking for the second out. Virgil Hill lined a two-out double down the third base line to score Piscotty and Garcia came in on an error. Neal Pritchard drove in Hill with a single, but was thrown out trying to advance to second to end the inning.
Left-hander Kyle Hald turned in a quality start, but did not factor into the decision. He pitched six innings, allowing one earned run on just four hits and one walk. He also set a season-high with eight strikeouts. Hald now leads all Quad Cities pitchers in strikeouts this season with 63.
After the River Bandits added a run in the bottom of the third on a Colin Walsh RBI single, Cedar Rapids (2-7, 34-45) scored their first run on an RBI single by Kernels designated hitter Matt Scioscia that scored Workman.
Two more Quad Cities' runs scored in the bottom of the fifth inning on a pair of passed balls. Colin Walsh and Matt Williams led Quad Cities, offensively, going 2-for-5 with 3 RBIs and 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and three runs scored.
This is the first three-game series sweep by the River Bandits since April 16-18, when Quad Cities swept the Clinton Lumberkings at home.
Quad Cities continues their six-game home stand Sunday with a 5:00 p.m. against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Left-hander Dail Villanueva (4-4) is scheduled to start for the River Bandits and right-hander Chad Thompson (3-1) will start for Wisconsin.
UP NEXT: Sunday's 5:00 p.m. game against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers is a U.S. Bank Family Sunday and Bark in the Park, presented by KWQC-TV and B100. The first 2,000 fans receive a River Bandits team photo, presented by Heartland Chiropractic. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. 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.