Gaviglio, offense push Bandits past Cougars for 12-7 win
Every River Bandits starter contributed to the total of 17 hits, which included the first home run of the season by second baseman Neal Pritchard and the sixth of the season by catcher Juan Castillo, who had a team-high three hits. Castillo, Piscotty and designated hitter David Medina each had three RBIs for Quad Cities (9-4 second half, 44-38 overall), which also matched a season high with six errors.
Quad Cities broke a scoreless tie with a three-run third inning. Center fielder Nick Martini hit a leadoff double and advanced to third on a one-out single by left fielder Anthony Garcia, who extended the Midwest League's longest active hitting streak to 13 games. Medina and Castillo then hit back-to-back RBI singles, and first baseman Roberto De La Cruz hit a two-out RBI double to extend the lead to 3-0.
Kane County answered quickly with a four-run third inning. Catcher Edul Escobar hit a leadoff home run - his first of the season and the Cougars' first hit against Gaviglio, who had pitched 10 straight scoreless innings. Gaviglio then tallied his sixth and seventh strikeouts of the night, before a single by a shortstop Jack Lopez and an error by Pritchard that allowed designated hitter Daniel Mateo to reach base. Right fielder Jorge Bonifacio hit an RBI single, and third baseman Michael Antonio hit a two-run single to give Kane County a 4-3 lead.
The River Bandits answered with four runs in the fourth, begun by Piscotty's two-out walk against right-hander Kyle Smith, who was then removed for right-hander Jonathan Dooley (2-2). Garcia greeted Dooley with his team-high 23rd double, and Medina gave the River Bandits the lead for good with a two-run single. Castillo followed with a two-run home run to make it 7-4.
The Cougars closed within 7-6 with a two-run sixth. Gaviglio's 11th strikeout came on a wild pitch that put Antonio on base. Gaviglio then walked first baseman Murray Watts, ending a streak in which Gaviglio had not allowed a base on balls in 29 1/3 innings - a River Bandits season high. Escobar hit a single, and Quad Cities committed two errors on the play, which brought in Antonio and ended the night for Gaviglio. Right-hander Travis Miller allowed a walk and an RBI single but got a fly out and strikeout with the bases loaded to preserve the one-run lead and keep Gaviglio in line for the win. Gaviglio (5-5) has fanned 28 batters in his last three starts - spanning 17 1/3 innings - to raise his season total to a team-leading 68.
Quad Cities added two runs in the seventh on an RBI double by shortstop Matt Williams and a Piscotty groundout. In the ninth, Pritchard hit a leadoff home run, and Piscotty hit a two-run homer to left field. Cougars manager Brian Buchanan argued the call and was ejected by home plate umpire James Rackley. River Bandits right-hander Ricky Martinez allowed a run in two innings for his second save.
River Bandits left-hander Hector Hernandez (5-4) faces Cougars right-hander Aaron Brooks (4-9) at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
UP NEXT: A bobblehead of three-time John Deere Classic Champion Steve Stricker will be given away to the first 2,000 fans to the River Bandits game Saturday, July 7, courtesy of Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center and CBS4. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with first pitch at 7 p.m., and there will be a pregame concert presented by 101.3 KISS-FM. The River Bandits continue the home stand with a U.S. Bank Family Sunday, July 8, and Golf Night and Buck Night Monday, July 9. 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!