Bandits Issue Ten Walks, Lose 6-5

The Quad Cities River Bandits could not overcome ten walks issued by their pitching staff as they dropped the rubber match of their series against the Bowling Green Hot Rods 6-5 on Monday afternoon at Bowling Green Ballpark. The Bandits walked at least one batter in every inning.
The River Bandits scored first for the third time in as many chances in the series. Marty Costes opened the second inning by yanking a double into the left field corner. He would race to third on a groundout deep in the hole at third and then score when first baseman Jim Haley dropped the throw across the diamond.
Bowling Green bounced right back in the bottom half of the inning against Chad Donato. The Hot Rods loaded the bases with a single and two walks. Leadoff hitter Vidal Brujan worked the count full and then rolled a base hit up the middle into center field to drive in a pair and give Bowling Green a 2-1 lead.

David Hensley continued his big series with a go-ahead double in the fourth. Seth Beer opened the frame with a double off of the right field wall. Chandler Taylor joined him on base with a walk in front of Hensley. The shortstop then split the outfielders with a sinking line drive to right center that cleared the bases and pushed the Bandits back on top 3-2.
In the bottom of the frame, Bowling Green again loaded the bases against Donato with two singles and a base on balls. The starter was removed in favor of Enoli Paredes. The right-hander walked Brujan to force in the tying run and then gave up a sacrifice fly to Carl Chester to move Bowling Green ahead 4-3.
The Bandits climbed back into a tie when Taylor opened the sixth inning with a solo home run to right field that travelled 402 feet. Later in the frame, Hensley walked and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Michael Papierski hooked a single into right field to drive him in and place the Bandits back in front 5-4.
That lead lasted until the bottom of the eighth. Emilio Gustave drew a one out walk and raced to third when Brujan belted a double off of the wall in right field. Chester followed with the game's decisive hit as he roped a double into the left field corner to score both runners and put the Hot Rods in front for good 6-5.
Donato, the starter, lasted 3.0 innings and surrendered four runs on four hits. He walked five and struck out four in the outing. Paredes backed him up with 3.0 scoreless innings out of the pen. He did not allow a hit and struck out five while working around three walks. Tanner Duncan took the loss after surrendering two runs on two hits and two walks in 2.0 innings.
The Bandits finished with six hits. Beer was the only player with multiple knocks for Quad Cities. Hensley drove in two runs. Bowling Green was guided by the three runs batted in of both Brujan and Chester.
The River Bandits (12-12, 52-42) will take Tuesday off before returning to Modern Woodmen Park on Wednesday to host the South Bend Cubs (13-12, 47-47). The Bandits will send LHP Parker Mushinski (4-2, 3.14) to the mound in the series opener which begins at 6:35 p.m.
All River Bandits games are broadcast on 1170 K-BOB and TuneIn Radio. Home games are also available with video on MiLB.TV.