Bandits sting Bees with 3-run 8th inning
BURLINGTON, Iowa (July 26, 2015) - In his first start since July 2, Brock Dykxhoorn threw five shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out three, and a three-run top of the eighth inning lifted the Quad Cities River Bandits over the Burlington Bees by a score of 5-4 at Community Field Sunday afternoon.
Dykxhoorn, who left the game after five innings with a 2-0 lead, saw that lead erased by four runs by the Bees (12-19 second half, 47-53 overall) in their half of the sixth inning against reliever Joshua James (3-2).
Trailing 4-2, the River Bandits (18-13, 63-36) began their eighth-inning comeback after shortstop Alex Bregman began the inning with a ground ball misplayed by third baseman Erick Salcedo. First baseman Nick Tanielu followed with a walk, putting two on with nobody out against Burlington reliever Jacob Kopra (0-1). After right fielder Drew Ferguson struck out swinging, center fielder Ramon Laureano singled to load the bases with one out, knocking Kopra out of the game in favor of Bees closer Eduardo Paredes. Pitching for the second straight game, Paredes struggled initially, as right fielder Sean McMullen hit a ball to the warning track in right, more than deep enough to score Bregman from third and bring Quad Cities within one. With two outs, back-to-back RBI singles by catcher Trent Woodward and third baseman Luis Reynoso scored Tanielu and Laureano, respectively, putting the River Bandits ahead, 5-4.
The eighth inning erased a lead the Bees had built with a four-run sixth inning. Bees second baseman Tim Arakawa began Burlington's sixth-inning rally with a hit against James, followed by a fly ball to left off the bat of first baseman Nick Flair. The next three men all reached base for the Bees, beginning with a single by designated hitter Steven Mateo. Left fielder Trever Allen was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with one out for right fielder Natanael Delgado, who hit a ball to deep left-center field for a two-run, game-tying double. With Salcedo batting, James threw a wild pitch that allowed Delgado to advance to third and Allen to score for a 4-2 Burlington lead. After Salcedo struck out, the lead became two on a base hit by catcher Brandon Gildea.
Quad Cities had taken the game's first lead, wasting no time getting on the board in the first inning. Center fielder Bobby Boyd and Bregman each drew walks against Burlington starter Jake Jewell, with Boyd scoring on Tanielu's single, the 47th RBI of the season for the Quad Cities All-Star. The Bandits' second run came in a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the fourth inning. Ferguson led off with a single before Laureano, attempting to sacrifice the runner over, reached on a bunt single, and McMullen was hit on the foot by Jewell to load the bases for Woodward, who bounced into a double play to short, scoring the runner from third in the process for a 2-0 River Bandits lead.
After Quad Cities regained the lead in the eighth inning, Angel Heredia pitched spotless innings in both the eighth and ninth innings, striking out three batters to record his fifth save of the year.
After a Midwest League-wide off day Monday, the River Bandits will finish their road stretch with three games in Beloit beginningTuesday. River Bandits right-hander Christian Powell (2-1, 2.53) is scheduled to face Snappers right-hander Junior Mendez (3-7, 5.10).
UP NEXT: Vote now until Monday for the Quad Cities River Bandits in the Quad-City Times Readers' Choice Awards. The River Bandits are up for Best Entertainment Venue, Best Family Entertainment, Best Place for a Kid's Birthday Party, and Best Place to Take Out of Town Guest. 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 calling563-324-3000.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: With the installation of the Ferris Wheel, 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, and this year the club is matching that effort by opening three new areas. A two-tiered special group deck immediately behind and overlooking the corn field opened in June. A new 11,000-square-foot concourse expansion down the third-base line will open in July. Finally, the club is expanding the children's play area by an additional 5,500 square feet down the right-field line. New rides will be announced upon completion of these new areas.