Kernels' fast start halts Bandits' streak
The Cedar Rapids Kernels scored three runs before the game's first out and had eight players contribute to the team's 14 total hits to salvage the three-game series finale against the Quad Cities River Bandits by a 6-1 final in front of 1,943 at Modern Woodmen Park Tuesday night.
With the loss, Quad Cities (31-33 second half, 66-67 overall) fell three games behind Wisconsin (34-30) for the final second-half playoff spot in the Western Division with six games remaining. Peoria (31-33) split a doubleheader at Clinton Tuesday to tie Quad Cities.
Against River Bandits right-hander Michael Feliz (8-5), the playoff-bound Kernels (40-24, 71-63) began the game with consecutive singles by second baseman Ryan Walker and shortstop Engelb Vielma. First baseman Chad Christensen put down a bunt to the third-base side of the pitcher's mound, and Feliz made an errant throw to third base, allowing Walker to score, Vielma to reach third base, and Christensen to reach second. Catcher Mitch Garver followed with a single to center field to score both runners, giving Cedar Rapids a 3-0 lead. Feliz got right fielder Alex Swim to ground into a double play and struck out designated hitter J.D. Williams to end the inning.
After working around a single in a scoreless second inning, Feliz allowed a third-inning, leadoff single by Vielma, who tried reaching second base but was thrown out by right fielder Marc Wik. With one out, Christensen singled to center field, Garver walked, and both Swim and Williams hit RBI singles, extending the Kernels' lead to 5-0.
Kernels left-hander Lewis Thorpe did not allow a hit until the third inning, when second baseman Jose Fernandez singled following a walk by center fielder Bobby Boyd. When Fernandez was caught stealing second base, Boyd took home for what would be his team's only run. Thorpe struck out four of the next five batters and allowed one hit and four walks with eight strikeouts in the first four innings.
Feliz allowed the final Kernels tally in the fifth inning, when Swim hit a two-out single to left field, and Williams drove an RBI triple - the only extra-base hit among 21 total hits in the game - to right-center field to make it 6-1. Feliz was charged with six runs - four earned - on 10 hits - which matched a season and career high - and two walks with four strikeouts in five innings.
The teams' bullpens combined for nine shutout innings while allowing 10 singles. Beginning the fifth inning, Kernels right-hander Chris Mazza (4-3) allowed an infield single by catcher Brett Booth, bunt single by shortstop Thomas Lindauer and a one-out walk to Fernandez to load the bases. Mazza escaped by getting first baseman Chase McDonald to ground into an inning-ending double play. In the sixth inning, designated hitter A.J. Reed and third baseman J.D. Davis hit consecutive singles off Mazza, who got right fielder Marc Wik to ground into a double play. Mazza allowed four hits and one walk with one strikeout in two scoreless innings. Kernels right-hander Brian Gilbert allowed two hits and had three strikeouts in two shutout innings, and right-hander Dallas Gallant pitched a perfect ninth. River Bandits right-hander Jandel Gustave worked a scoreless sixth, left-hander Albert Minnis worked a perfect seventh, and right-hander Raul Rivera allowed three singles in the ninth inning but worked two scoreless innings.
Quad Cities opens its final three-game home series with Clinton at 7 p.m. Wednesday, when River Bandits right-hander Kevin Comer (1-5) is scheduled to face LumberKings left-hander Blake Holovach (3-2). Quad Cities' final regular season home game is Friday.
UP NEXT: Fan Appreciation Week continues Wednesday with Isle Casino Night and Pay Your Bill Wednesday presented by U.S. Bank, CBS4 and Mix 96. Fans can submit copies of their unpaid bills, and the two selected will be paid up to $100 by the River Bandits. All regular individual tickets are half-price on Thursday for Modern Woodmen Half-Price Night with a River Bandits hat giveaway, and Friday is Fan Appreciation Night with postgame fireworks. Regular tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership recently made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop-N-Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened. In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. Last season, the team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, 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.