River Bandits Slug Past Cougars

GENEVA, Ill. - A 13-hit effort from the Quad Cities River Bandits included eight extra-base knocks and three home runs as the Kane County Cougars fell in a 12-5 loss on Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. 

Roberto Pena blasted a solo shot off Tayler Scott (4-4) in the top of the second to get the River Bandits (50-36, 12-5) on the board. It was a 1-1 tie at that point with Marco Hernandez putting the Cougars (34-49, 4-13) on top with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the first. 

Quad Cities went ahead for good in the top of the third as Dan Gulbransen doubled home Teoscar Hernandez. Gulbransen was guided to the plate by a two-bagger off the bat of Jesse Wierzbicki. Scott left the contest with two outs and two on in the sixth in favor of Armando Rivero. After walking the first batter he faced, Rivero coughed up a grand slam to Brian Blasik which put the River Bandits in front by six. 

A comeback effort was created by the Cougars (34-49, 4-13) in the bottom of the sixth, chasing Colton Cain (4-5) from the contest. Albert Almora drew a leadoff walk and scored on a Jeimer Candelario two-base hit which also pushed Dan Vogelbach to third. Three batters later, Gioskar Amaya lifted a flyball to center that Jordan Scott handled and then threw into the third base stands, allowing Vogelbach and Candelario to come home. 

In the bottom of the seventh, the Cougars drew even closer against Gerardo Sanchez. Kevin Encarnacion cracked a double and crossed the plate on a Vogelbach sac fly. Rivero let up a solo shot to Rio Ruiz in the top of the eighth while Stephen Perakslis surrendered a four-spot in the ninth. 

The Cougars wrap up their five-game set with the River Bandits on Monday afternoon with a 12:00 start from Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. Left-hander Michael Heesch (3-7) starts for the Cougars against righty Lance McCullers (4-4). For tickets, please call (630) 232-8811 or visit www.kccougars.com.