Bandits outduel Cougars in series opener
Quad Cities River Bandits right-handers Joshua James, Keegan Yuhl and Jose Montero combined to limit the Kane County Cougars to one run on four hits, and second baseman Kristian Trompiz hit a game-tying, seventh-inning home run before an eighth-inning tally gave the home team a 2-1 victory in front of 3,771 at Modern Woodmen Park Saturday night.
For the first time in five years, the River Bandits have won their first four home games and begun the season 8-2 overall. Quad Cities also won against an Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate for the first time since the clinching Game 3 of the 2013 Midwest League Championship against the South Bend Silver Hawks, Arizona's Class-A affiliate at the time.
After James pitched a perfect top of the first inning, Quad Cities had its first scoring threat in the bottom half. Cougars right-hander Markus Solbach allowed a leadoff walk to first baseman Jamie Ritchie and one-out single by designated hitter Derek Fisher, who extended his hitting streak to seven games with a blooper down the left-field line. Third baseman Nick Tanielu then flied to right field, from where Colin Bray threw out Fisher as he tried to advance to second base.
Kane County (3-7) scored its run in the second inning. James began by walking designated hitter Steve McQuail, and then on three consecutive pitches, third baseman Cody Regis singled to left field, left fielder Josh Elander grounded into a double play, and center fielder Victor Reyes lined a two-out RBI single to left field for a 1-0 Cougars lead. Reyes was then caught stealing to end the inning. James later worked around a hit batter and walk with one out in the fourth inning with a strikeout and groundout to the mound. In his first Midwest League start, he finished five innings, allowing one earned run on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
Solbach dodged Quad Cities' threats in the third and fifth innings. In the third, he allowed a one-out single by River Bandits shortstop Thomas Lindauer and another walk to Ritchie. A wild pitch moved Lindauer to third base, but Solbach struck out right fielder Ryan Bottger and got Fisher to pop out to end the inning. In the fifth, a two-out walk to Lindauer, a single by Ritchie and walk to Bottger loaded the bases before Fisher flied out to left field.
Solbach preserved the 1-0 lead until one out in the seventh inning, when Trompiz lifted the first pitch he saw over the right-field wall for his third professional home run and his first since last June 20 in the Gulf Coast League. The Cougars answered the momentum swing during the next at-bat, as Lindauer hit a foul popup that Bray caught as he collided with the Party Plaza fence and fell over the railing. Bray remained in the game, but Solbach was removed after Ritchie reached on a two-out infield single. Kane County's starter allowed one earned run on five hits and four walks with five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. Right-hander Jency Solis entered to yield a double down the left-field line by Bottger to put runners at second and third bases before getting Fisher on a groundout.
Yuhl (1-0) faced one batter over the minimum in the sixth through eighth innings, with the only baserunner reaching on a strikeout and wild pitch. Yuhl struck out four batters and earned his first professional win because of Quad Cities' run in the eighth inning. Center fielder Sean McMullen doubled to right field with one out and stole third base, before catcher Jacob Nottingham grounded out to third base to score with the infield in to score McMullen. Montero made the lead stand despite allowing a leadoff single to first baseman Marty Herum and one-out walk to third baseman Cody Regis in the ninth inning. Montero earned his second save.
The River Bandits continue their series against Kane County at 1:15 p.m. Sunday at Modern Woodmen Park. Right-hander Brock Dykxhoorn (1-0) is scheduled to face Cougars right-hander Brent Jones (0-1).
UP NEXT: Sunday is Frozen Princess Day and a Family Sunday presented by B-100 and ESPN 93.5. River Bandits players will sign autographs at 12:30 p.m., dogs can come to Bark in the Park on the Modern Woodmen Berm, and Kids Run the Bases presented by Prairie Farms. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership in 2014 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.