Quad Cities' rally falls short, Bandits lose 3-2 to Timber Rattlers
After Anthony Garcia singled to lead off the top of the ninth inning, David Medina hit into a double play to seemingly kill any hopes of a rally. However, the next batter, Juan Castillo, singled and Casey Rasmus came in as a pinch-runner. After Luis Mateo was hit by a pitch, Roberto De La Cruz hit a line drive-single to left field, scoring Rasmus from first, and cutting the Wisconsin lead to 3-2. Virgil Hill came in to pinch run for De La Cruz, but Neal Pritchard struck out for the fourth time in four at-bats to end the game.
In his first start of the season, Quad Cities right-hander Willy Paulino (2-5) was effectively wild, throwing five innings of two-run, one-hit ball, while walking three and striking out six. After allowing the first five batters to reach, Paulino faced the minimum until a two-out walk in the fifth to Wisconsin third baseman Brandon Macias.
Wisconsin (1-4, 45-29) had their first five batters of the game reach, and pushed across a run via a single, two hit-by-pitches and two base-on-balls. Paulino then bounced back to set down the next three batters in order, two of which came on strikeouts.
Quad Cities (3-2, 38-36) scored their first run on a solo home run to left field by Medina in the top of the second inning off Thompson (3-1). The right-hander threw six innings of one-run ball, and allowed just two base hits and two walks, while striking out a career-high eight batters.
The Timber Rattlers added what proved to be the deciding run in the sixth inning when right fielder Max Walla singled to left field, scoring Ben McMahan, who drew a walk off right-hander Robert Stock with two outs in the inning.
The four strikeouts by Neal Pritchard set a new season-high for the River Bandits. A River Bandits player had struck out three times on 22 different occasions heading into play Tuesday.
Quad Cities continues their three-game series at Wisconsin on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. Quad Cities has not yet announced their starting pitcher and right-hander Matt Miller (5-5) will start for the Timber Rattlers.
UP NEXT: Hacksaw Jim Duggan will be at Modern Woodmen Park for Pro Wrestling Night with the River Bandits Thursday, June 28, when the River Bandits host the Cedar Rapids Kernels at 7 p.m. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at (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.