Bandits win finale but miss first half playoff spot

BELOIT, Wisc. - The Quad Cities River Bandits got a come-from-behind 5-3 win over the Beloit Snappers in the final game of the 2017 first half Sunday afternoon at Pohlman Field. With a win by Cedar Rapids, the win is not enough for the River Bandits, who finish one game out of the first-half Wild Card for the Western Division of the Midwest League. Yordan Alvarez hit his team-leading ninth home run of the season in the win.

Quad Cities (37-31) takes the series from Beloit (32-37) with the win and won four of their last five games of the half to stay in contention for a playoff spot heading into the final day of the half. Alvarez gave the Bandits a lead with his two-run home run in the third. It was the fourth home run in Alvarez's last six games. Beloit answered with a two-run single by Nate Mondou in the home half of the inning. That score held until an Eric Mariñez single in the sixth gave Beloit the lead.
Quad Cities rallied for a pair of runs in the eighth to take the lead. Bryan De La Cruz pinch hit to make his Bandit debut and led off the inning with a single, got to third when Jonathan Arauz reached on a two-base error then an intentional walk to Alvarez loaded the bases. Ray Henderson pinch hit and bounced into a fielder's choice but everyone was safe thanks to the second error of the inning, bringing home the tying run. Tyler Wolfe also bounced into a fielder's choice to plate the go-ahead run. It was the first RBI of the year for Wolfe, playing in his third game.
Abdiel Saldana (2-1) got the win for three innings of relief for the Bandits. Yordes Alejo (2-2) gave up two unearned runs in 2.1 innings to suffer the loss. Kevin Hill allowed two base runners in the ninth but worked a scoreless frame for his second save of the year.
After the All-Star break, the Bandits open the second half at home against the Cedar Rapids Kernels Thursday at 6:35 p.m. CT. Gates will open one hour prior to first pitch for a Thursty Thursday at the ballpark as the Bandits open a four-game set with the team that edged them out for the Wild Card spot in the first half. Tickets are available by calling (563) 324-3000, visiting riverbandits.com or at the box office at Modern Woodmen Park.