Bandits Hit Three Homers, Triumph in Finale Over Hot Rods

Bowling Green, Ky. - Three home runs and timely defense led to the 4-3 victory for the Quad Cities River Bandits (Class-A/Houston Astros) on Monday afternoon over the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays). The River Bandits swept the three-game series from the Hot Rods, and the loss also concludes Western Division play for Bowling Green.

The first home run for Quad Cities was hit on the first pitch of the game. Brett Phillips led off the game with a solo blast, it was his third home run in as many games, and it gave the River Bandits the early 1-0 lead.

Bowling Green rallied to erase the 1-0 lead in the second. With one out Alexander Simon singled to left field, and moved to second when Julian Ridings reached on a bunt single. Darryl George then doubled into the left-field corner to drive home Simon and advance Ridings to third. Spencer Edwards capped the inning with a single to plate Ridings and give the Hot Rods the lead, 2-1.

Former Kentucky Wildcat and Golden Spikes winner A.J. Reed made his presence felt in just his second at-bat at the full-season level. In the top of the fourth, with Chase McDonald at first base, Reed hit a home run over the right-center field fence. It was his sixth professional homer, but also his first hit as a River Bandit. Quad Cities then led by a 3-2 margin.

A two-out rally would see the Hot Rods load the bases, and George scamper home on a wild pitch. However, Bowling Green would do no further damage in the frame and the inning ended tied at three.

McDonald and the River Bandits would un-tie the contest when he homered for the tenth time this season. The solo home run came in the sixth inning, and put Quad Cities in front, 4-3.

The Hot Rods threatened to re-take the lead in a wild eighth inning, but Simon was tagged out at home plate in controversial fashion by the left fielder, Ronnie Mitchell. The play started as two separate rundowns, and after six different River Bandits handled the baseball, Simon was tagged out when he broke for him with the plate uncovered. Mitchell won the foot race according to home plate umpire Brandon Butler, and it would be the final Hot Rods rally.

Bowling Green now embarks on a six-game road trip, beginning in South Bend, Ind. on Tuesday evening. First pitch against the Silver Hawks (Arizona Diamondbacks) is set for 6:05 p.m. CT, and the Pepsi Pre-Game Show will begin at 5:50 p.m. CT on the radio home of the Hot Rods, 1340 WBGN - The Ticket. The Hot Rods will return to Bowling Green on Monday, August 4, and tickets are available for the six-game homestand. Fans can logon to BGHotRods.com, call 270-901-2121, or stop by the Bowling Green Ballpark box office for more information.

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