Bees get triple play, 12-inning win over Bandits
Burlington first baseman Eric Aguilera caught an eighth-inning line drive to begin the first triple play of the season by a Quad Cities opponent and hit a go-ahead RBI single to break a 3-3, 12th-inning tie in the Bees' 5-4 win over the River Bandits in front of 2,691 at Modern Woodmen Park Monday night.
The Bees' second triple play in 10 days - and the first against the River Bandits since Peoria turned one May 11, 2013 - thwarted the home team's scoring chance in a 3-3, eighth-inning tie. After center fielder James Ramsay drew a leadoff walk against left-hander Cole Swanson, right-hander Alan Busenitz entered to face shortstop Jack Mayfield, who bounced a single to left field. Ramsay and Mayfield ran on Busenitz's 2-2 pitch to designated hitter Conrad Gregor, who hit a line drive that Aguilera leaped to grab. Aguilera then touched first base before throwing to shortstop Erick Salcedo at second base to complete the triple play.
Burlington (20-22) opened the scoring in the second inning against right-hander Edison Frias. After a one-out walk and error by third baseman Tyler White, a groundout moved runners to second and third base. Salcedo put an RBI bunt single to the third-base side of the mound, and Frias's wild throw to first base allowed a second run to score. Trailing 2-0, Quad Cities (20-23) answered in the next half-inning against right-hander Elliot Morris. First baseman Jon Kemmer hit a two-out double to left-center field, right fielder Brett Phillips hit an RBI single to right field, and Ramsay hit a game-tying double to right.
The Bees broke the 2-2 tie in the third, however, as center fielder Chad Hinshaw hit a leadoff triple to right-center field and scored on Aguilera's single to right field. In the bottom of the third, Gregor doubled and eventually scored the tying run on a passed ball by catcher Stephen McGee. It was the last of three runs - two earned - against Morris, who pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Frias lasted a season-long five innings, allowing three runs - one earned - on six hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
River Bandits left-hander Evan Grills began the sixth inning and scattered two hits and a walk, not allowing a runner past second base in four relief innings. Opposite him, Swanson (1 2/3 innings), Busenitz (two innings), and right-hander Ben Carlson (one inning) carried the Bees' scoreless relief effort. Busenitz and Carlson stranded the winning run at third base in the ninth and 10th innings respectively.
After Grills, left-hander Chris Cotton (1-3) pitched a perfect 10th inning and stranded two runners in scoring position in the 11th. In the 12th, he allowed a one-out bunt single by second baseman Kody Eaves and double by right fielder Exicardo Cayones. With runners at second and third bases, right-hander Andrew Walter came in to get a fielder's choice groundout before Aguilera's go-ahead hit to left field. Left fielder Brandon Bayardi added an RBI single to make it 5-3. Against right-hander Grant Gordon (1-1), Quad Cities left fielder Ronnie Mitchell led off the 12th by reaching on an error by Aguilera, and pinch hitter Brett Booth hit a double to left field. But Gordon finished a two-inning outing by retiring the next three batters, allowing one run to score, and stranding Booth as the tying run at second base.
After their series opener lasted three hours, 54 minutes - the longest game time for Quad Cities since a four-hour, 15-minute, 6-5, 13-inning loss at Clinton Aug. 28, 2012 - Quad Cities and Burlington play at 11 a.m. Tuesday, when River Bandits right-hander Adrian Houser (2-1) is scheduled to face Bees right-hander Harrison Cooney (2-2).
UP NEXT: A limited number of tickets are still available for the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride event and fundraiser to benefit the Genesis Health Services Foundation May 24. Only the first 300 will be sold for the noon to 3 p.m. event at Modern Woodmen Park. Call 563-421-6865 or visit Modern Woodmen park to order tickets. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 110 feet over the playing field, will open May 24, followed by a new ride called a "Drop and Twist," an expanded 300-foot long zip line, and many other new games and attractions. In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. The team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, just saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championship.