Bandits Down Dragons 9-3 to Open Series

The Quad Cities River Bandits continued their winning ways against opponents from the Eastern Division with a convincing 9-3 win over the Dayton Dragons on Wednesday night at Modern Woodmen Park. Austin Dennis and Cesar Salazar each collected three runs batted in to guide the Bandits nine-hit attack. The River Bandits now own a 14-2 record against teams from the Eastern half of the league.
Quad Cities (15-9, 58-32) enjoyed a quick start both on the mound and at the plate. Starting pitcher Jonathan Bermudez retired the side in order in the top of the first and set the stage for the offense to grab an early lead. Dayton starter Jhon De Jesus walked the first two batters in the bottom half and then shortstop Miguel Hernandez misplayed a groundball to load the bases. Cesar Salazar lined a sacrifice fly to right field that gave the River Bandits a 1-0 lead. After the remaining runners pulled off a double steal to get to second and third, Grae Kessinger lined a two-run single into left center that extended the advantage to 3-0.
The Bandits went right back on the attack in the second frame. Carlos Machado walked to open the inning and then Dennis hammered a 397-foot home run over the berm in left field to stretch the lead to 5-0. The home run was the second of the season for the leadoff hitter. 

Another crooked number in the fifth inning widened the gap to 9-0. Salazar hammered a two-run double to right, Lacroix dropped an RBI single into shallow center and Dennis scored a run with a single up the middle during the inning.
A shutout was still a possibility until Dayton (11-14, 39-56) scored against reliever R.J. Freure in the eighth. Claudio Final drove in a pair with a double down the third base line after a single and base on balls began the inning. In the ninth, the Dragons added a Mariel Bautista sacrificly fly to get as close as 9-3 before Hunter Martin retired the final two batters with the bases loaded.
Kessinger joined Dennis and Salazar with multiple hits in the game for the Bandits. The Dragons received two hits from Michael Siani at the top of their lineup.
Bermudez tossed 5.0 scoreless innings to earn the win. He scattered two hits and recorded eight strikeouts in his third start of the season. Freure was charged with all three runs over his 3.0 innings of work on the hill.
The River Bandits will host the Dragons once again on Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. for game two of the series. RHP Brett Daniels (4-4, 1.59) is scheduled to start for the River Bandits against Dayton RHP Lyon Richardson (2-7, 4.41). The Bandits will be wearing special uniforms that will be auctioned off to benefit Vera French. On Thirsty Thursday there will be $2 beer and soda specials at the ballpark as well.
All River Bandits games are broadcast on 1170 K-BOB and TuneIn Radio. Home games are also available with video on MiLB.TV.