Timber Rattlers knock out Jenkins early, down Quad Cities
River Bandits second baseman Colin Walsh hit his league-leading 16th home run in the third inning, and left fielder Anthony Garcia brought Quad Cities within one run with his ninth home run in the seventh. But both Walsh and Garcia grounded out as the final two batters against Timber Rattlers right-hander Tommy Toledo with the tying run in scoring position in the ninth inning. Toledo earned his fourth save for Wisconsin (2-4, 46-29).
Jenkins (1-3) lasted just 1 2/3 innings after he came off the disabled list to make his first start since June 2. He was charged with three hits, five runs and four earned runs, while he walked two and struck out three.
After a 1-2-3 first inning with two strikeouts, Jenkins allowed the first four Timber Rattlers to reach in the second. Center fielder Mitch Haniger hit a leadoff single to center field, and first baseman Nick Ramirez drove in Haniger with a double to right field. Catcher Cameron Garfield then brought in Ramirez with a double to left field. Down 2-0 with no one out, Jenkins walked shortstop Yadiel Rivera before striking out right fielder Max Walla and getting a pop out by second baseman Carlos George for the first two outs. Jenkins walked designated hitter Chadwin Stang to load the bases and was removed with a 2-0 deficit.
Left-hander Jonathan Cornelius relieved Jenkins and allowed a two-run single to Timber Rattlers left fielder Lance Roenicke. Cornelius then fanned third baseman Brandon Macias, but the inning continued, because the ball got past catcher Juan Castillo, who was charged with a season-high four passed balls to increase his season total to a Midwest League-high 14. Haniger, the 10th batter of the inning, capitalized with his second single of the inning, which brought in two runs and extended the Wisconsin lead to 6-0. On the play, the River Bandits got the final out of the inning by catching Macias in a rundown.
Quad Cities (3-3, 38-37) answered in the top of the third inning, when Walsh hit a three-run home run against Wisconsin right-hander Matt Miller (6-5), who lasted five innings and allowed four runs on six hits. The homer increased Walsh's league-leading RBI total to 61. Designated hitter Matt Williams brought Quad Cities within 6-4 with a fourth-inning RBI single to drive in shortstop Luis Mateo.
Cornelius pitched four innings in relief, allowing eight hits but only a single unearned run while walking one batter and striking out five. Right-handers Travis Miller and Ethan Cole combined for 2 1/3 shutout innings.
The River Bandits lost their first series in their last five, but they will try to rebound in their first home series of the second half, a three-game set against the Cedar Rapids Kernels beginning Thursday night at Modern Woodmen Park. Right-hander Sam Gaviglio (3-5) will oppose Kernels right-hander Austin Wood (3-6).
UP NEXT: "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan will be at Modern Woodmen Park for Pro Wrestling Night Thursday, June 28, to kick off the next River Bandits home stand. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. game against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. It's also a Barrel House Thirst-Day presented by Rock 104.9, the CW and the River Cities' Reader. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at 563-322-6348 (563-3-BANDIT) and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: After four years of ballpark improvements, the River Bandits and the City of Davenport last summer unveiled some of the most impressive enhancements to Modern Woodmen Park yet. A brand new, state of the art, high definition 20' x 35' video board went live on June 7, and the newly enclosed glass Sky Deck on the suite level of Modern Woodmen Park was completed last August. Those improvements, in addition to new flood protection, a new front plaza, and a new parking lot directly across the street from the ballpark, are quickly making Modern Woodmen Park one of the premier facilities in all of Minor League Baseball. More improvements are scheduled for this coming season!