Bandits hopeless against Kaminsky

PEORIA, Ill. - Rob Kaminsky fired seven shutout innings and shortstop Juan Herrera set career-highs with four hits and four RBIs as the Peoria Chiefs crushed the Quad Cities River Bandits 8-2 Monday at Dozer Park.

Kaminsky (4-1) yielded only three hits without walking a batter. He fanned seven and allowed only one Bandit to reach third base against him.

Peoria (8-3 second half, 45-35 overall) got things started from the very beginning against Quad Cities (5-6 second half, 40-40 overall) starter Jandel Gustave. Vaughn Bryan led off the bottom of the first with a single before Gustave walked C.J. McElroy, Jr. and Justin Ringo to load the bases. Gustave punched out Carson Kelly and Mason Katz, but then Herrera singled to center to bring home two runs. Steve Bean's single a few pitches later plated Ringo to make it 3-0 Peoria.

Gustave (5-4) continued to struggle in the third, walking Kelly to lead off the inning before plunking Katz with an inside fastball, the first of two times the Peoria second baseman would be hit by a pitch in the game. Herrera then singled to right-center to score Kelly and push Katz to third. On the relay throw home, Jose Fernandez's throw sailed up the third base line and by the catcher Brett Booth, which allowed Herrera to advance to second. The River Bandits then brought in Chris Cotton, who walked Bean and gave up a single to Kenny Peoples-Walls to push across another run, making it 5-0 Chiefs. Michael Schulze then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, which scored Herrera to make it 6-0. Both runs were charged to Gustave, who gave up six on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts in two-plus frames.

Herrera singled again with two outs in the sixth inning against Quad Cities reliever Tyler Brunnemann to make it 7-0 Peoria.

The Chiefs won the season series against Quad Cities for the first time since 2009.

The River Bandits begin a three-game series tomorrow at Beloit with Michael Feliz (3-2, 3.64) on the mound for game one. The Snappers will counter with Hunter Adkins (0-1, 4.91).

UP NEXT: The River Bandits return home for the Fourth of July weekend, beginning with a 7 p.m. game Friday, July 4, to be followed by Fourth of July Fireworks presented by Smart Toyota of the Quad Cities, WLLR and WQAD. Game tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership recently made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, and Space Camp opened June 20. Soon to come is another new ride, this one called a "Drop and Twist." In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. Last season, the team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championship.