Bandits run away from Bees in series opener

DAVENPORT, Iowa - The Quad Cities River Bandits racked up nine steals and plated a season-high run total in a 12-4 win over the Burlington Bees Monday afternoon in front of 4,422 fans at Modern Woodmen Park. Kyle Tucker had three hits, three steals, three runs batted in and a run scored in the win. Anthony Hermelyn and Christian Correa both also had three-RBI games while Aaron Mizell reached base five times and had a trio of steals himself, scoring twice.

The River Bandits (13-17) set a season-high in stolen bases, going a perfect nine-for-nine on the day against the Burlington (12-18) battery. Quad Cities used three in the first inning to grab an early lead. Johnny Sewald doubled to lead off the home first, then stole third before Tucker blooped a single down the left field line, pushing Sewald across for the game's first run. Tucker stole two bases in the inning as well, but was stranded at third.

Quad Cities added three more runs in the second inning on a Bobby Wernes RBI-double and a two-out, two-run double by Tucker, who notched his fifth multi-hit game in his last six played. A Connor Goedert two-run home run, his second of the year, made it 6-0 Bandits in the third inning before Hermelyn hung a sacrifice fly to right field for the extra point and a touchdown lead after four innings.

Alex Winkelman was perfect through four innings in his start for the River Bandits before giving up a double to lead off the fifth inning. Winkelman (3-1) gave up three total runs on five hits while striking out six in 5.2 innings to get the win. Ronnie Glenn (1-2) took the loss for seven earned runs on six hits in four innings for Burlington. Ryan Deemes came in for Winkelman with two outs in the sixth and the tying run in the on-deck circle, allowing a run over the final 3.1 innings to get his first save of the season.

After the Bees scored four straight runs from the fifth through seventh inning to cut the deficit to three, Quad Cities erupted for five runs in the eighth to pull away. Hermelyn doubled home a pair then scored when Correa unloaded the bases with a double of his own. They were the first three RBIs on the season for Correa. All five runs were charged to reliever Zach Hartman, who lasted just a third of an inning.

The nine stolen bases were two shy of the Midwest League record of 11, which has been done three times in league history. Mattoon did it first in 1949 then, ironically, Quad Cities in 1964 and Burlington in an 18-inning game in 2014. Antonio Nunez had two stolen bases to help the cause, reaching three times on two hits and a walk. Mizell reached all five times he came to the plate and has reached base in every May game he's played.

Quad Cities looks to secure a series victory in the middle contest of a three-game set on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. CT at Modern Woodmen Park. The River Bandits send Jose Hernandez (0-1, 4.95) to the mound against righty Jose Rodriguez (1-2, 3.86) for Burlington. Gates will open at 6:00 for Teacher Appreciation Night, Military Tuesday and Dew-for-Tuesday at the ballpark. The radio broadcast will begin at 6:45 with the LLOYD Agencies Pregame show with broadcasters Jake Levy and Lance Ragland on the call on MiLB.TV, K-BOB 1170 AM, riverbandits.com and the TuneIn app.