Big inning dooms River Bandits at Kane County
The Cougars (9-5 second half, 43-41 overall) evened the three-game series and pulled into a Midwest League Western Division first-place tie with the River Bandits (9-5 second half, 44-39 overall).
Kane County put the first seven batters on base in the fifth inning against left-hander Hector Hernandez (5-5), who had pitched five shutout innings in his first start against Kane County April 6. In his second-ever start against the Cougars Thursday night, Hernandez was charged with eight runs - seven earned - on eight hits in eight innings while walking four and striking out four.
In a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fifth, Cougars left fielder Tim Ferguson drew a leadoff walk, second baseman Justin Trapp reached on a bunt single, and center fielder Alex Llanos hit a single to left field. With the bases loaded and nobody out in a tie game, designated hitter Jorge Bonifacio hit a ground ball that went through the legs of second baseman Neal Pritchard and allowed two runs to score. Right fielder Julio Aparicio followed with a two-run double to right-center field, and third baseman Michael Antonio capped the scoring with a two-run home run to right field, giving Kane County an 8-2 lead.
That was plenty of support for right-hander Aaron Brooks (5-9), who allowed two earned runs on eight hits in seven innings. He walked one batter and struck out six. Right-hander Robinson Yambati pitched the final two scoreless innings for Kane County.
Cougars catcher Kenny Swab hit a solo home run leading off the eighth inning against right-hander Heath Wyatt. The home run was the first of the season for Swab, the first allowed by Wyatt to a right-handed hitter, and the second overall against the River Bandits closer.
The Cougars (9-5 second half, 43-41 overall) opened the scoring in the second inning with a two-out RBI single by Ferguson. Trapp extended the lead to 2-0 with his sixth home run leading off the third inning.
The River Bandits cut the lead to 2-1 with an RBI single by left fielder Anthony Garcia, who has a hit in each of the first 14 games of the second half - the longest active hitting streak in the Midwest League and a mark that is tied for the fourth-longest of the season.
Quad Cities got back-to-back singles by right fielder Roberto Reyes and Pritchard to start the fifth, and shortstop Matt Williams hit a game-tying RBI double that put Pritchard at third with the potential go-ahead run. But Brooks struck out center fielder Nick Martini swinging and caught third baseman Stephen Piscotty looking at strike three to wipe out the River Bandits' best chance for the lead.
River Bandits left-hander Kyle Hald (3-4) faces Cougars right-hander Kellen Moen (3-4) in the rubber match at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
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!