KOZMA'S HOMER NOT ENOUGH IN FORT WAYNE
Quad Cities (7-7) got multi-hit games from four different players and registered 10 hits as a team, but also issued eight walks that helped the Wizards control the ballgame. Fort Wayne (5-10) scored in the first inning and led throughout, getting a big 2-for-4, four-RBI day from first baseman Felix Carrasco.
The Wizards jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first, but River Bandits starter Thomas Eager was able to limit the damage. The bases were loaded with nobody out when Kellen Kulbacki sent a chopper towards the second baseman, allowing Luis Durango to score the game's first run while Quad Cities turned a 5-4-3 double play. Eager then struck out the next batter to end the inning, escaping with just a 1-0 deficit.
One inning later, Fort Wayne added to the lead. Justin Baum drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a groundout, and scored on a single up the middle by Carrasco. Later in the frame there were men at second and third and two outs when Drew Cumberland bounced a base hit through the left side. That brought home another run to make it a 3-0 game, but left-fielder Matt Arburr came up throwing to the plate and cut down Durango trying to score from second to retire the side.
That proved to be enough for the Wizards' pitching staff, led by five strong innings from Matt Teague (1-1). The lefty held Quad Cities to one run on four hits over five innings to earn the win.
The River Bandits got on the board for the first time in the top of the third. Cardinals' first-round pick Pete Kozma, the 18th overall pick in the 2007 draft, turned on an 0-1 pitch with one out and clubbed his first homer of the year to left field. The third home run of the young shortstop's pro career brought Quad Cities to within a 3-1 score.
That margin held until the seventh inning, when Arburr and Beau Riportella checked in with consecutive one-out singles. Mike Folli followed by belting a double that one-hopped the wall in center, scoring Arburr and moving Riportella to third. But Wizards' hurler Jeremy McBryde buckled down from there, getting Justin Roberson and Kozma to strike out swinging and maintain Fort Wayne's 3-2 lead.
The Wizards added an insurance run on a bases-loaded walk in the seventh and then put the game away in the very next inning. After retiring the first two batters he faced in the eighth, Cardoza Tucker, Jr. allowed a single and issued his fourth walk of the game to put two men aboard. Carrasco made him pay two pitches later, slugging a three-run homer to right-center to push Fort Wayne's lead to 7-2.
Eager (0-1) took the loss for Quad Cities after allowing three runs on four hits and three walks over three innings of work. After reliever Matt Spade kept the game tight with two hitless innings of relief, Fort Wayne widened the gap against Tucker, Jr., who allowed four runs on four hits and four walks during his three innings.
UP NEXT: The River Bandits will play game two of their three-game series in Fort Wayne on Saturday. Quad Cities returns to Modern Woodmen Park for a season-long nine game homestand beginning on Tuesday, April 22. The homestand will feature Price is Right Night, Irish Night, and Ladies Night among others, as Burlington, Great Lakes, and Lansing come to town. Merchandise featuring the new team name and logo is currently available by visiting the Modern Woodmen Park team store, and season ticket packages, mini-packages, and the all-new You-Pick-10 Plan are on sale at the park or by calling (563) 3-BANDITS!