Bandits Score Seven Late Runs to Top Timber Rattlers

The Quad Cities River Bandits scored seven runs in their final three innings at the plate to erase a three-run deficit and beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 8-4 at Modern Woodmen Park on Wednesday evening. The victory kept the Bandits in a tie atop the Western Division with Peoria.
Wisconsin jumped in front in the second inning by taking advantage of some rare wildness from River Bandits starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval. The Timber Rattlers loaded the bases with two walks and an infield single. Sandoval had issued just six walks all season prior to the start of the frame. With the bases full, the left-hander's first pitch to Payton Henry was in the dirt and skipped by catcher Michael Papierski for a wild pitch. All three runners advanced, with K.J. Harrison able to score from third to give the Timber Rattlers a 1-0 advantage.
The River Bandits came back to tie the score in the bottom of the third inning. Jake Meyers worked a two out walk and raced all the way around the bases to score on Jonathan Arauz's triple into the right field corner. The triple was the fifth of the season for Arauz.

Payton Henry led off Wisconsin's half of the fifth inning with a single up the middle. Nick Roscetti pulled a double down the left field line, leaving runners at second and third with no outs. Colton Shaver made a nice play on a sharp groundball to the left side for the first out. However, the next hitter, Tristen Lutz, smacked a three-run home run to right field to open up a 4-1 Wisconsin lead.
The River Bandits closed the gap in the sixth. Corey Julks opened the frame with a walk against reliever Jose Cuas. With Julks on the move, Miguelangel Sierra blasted a double to the wall in right center field that allowed Julks to race home and pulled the Bandits within 4-2. A wild pitch allowed Sierra to advance to third before he was joined on base by Jake Adams, who walked. With Michael Papierski at the plate, Adams broke for second and was caught stealing, but Sierra scored on the play and reduced the deficit to 4-3.
The River Bandits took the lead for good with a big seventh inning. After reliever Jose Cuas retired Bryan De La Cruz to start the inning, he was replaced by reliever Cody Beckman. Ruben Castro greeted the southpaw with a single up the middle and then moved to second when first baseman Gabriel Garcia dropped a pick-off throw. Meyers walked and Arauz followed with an infield single to load the bases. Julks hit a groundball to the left side that shortstop Devin Hairston dove to knock down, but two runs scored to put the Bandits on top 5-4. Later, Jake Adams powered a double into the gap to plate two more runs and make it 7-4.
The final damage was done by Meyers in the eighth. Colton Shaver started the inning with a double that was out of the reach of center fielder Joantgel Segovia and quickly stole third base. Meyers hit a towering fly ball to the wall in center that glanced off the glove of Segovia and fell to the warning track for a triple and allowed Shaver to score to push the margin to 8-4.
The River Bandits collected 11 hits in the contest. Arauz paced all hitters by tallying three. Julks and Adams each added a pair.
Sandoval worked 4.2 innings and allowed four runs on five hits. He walked a pair and struck out four. Juan Robles followed with 3.1 shutout innings during which he allowed two hits, struck out three and walked one. Carlos Sanabria closed the game with a scoreless ninth inning that was complete with a pair of strikeouts.
The River Bandits (25-20) and Timber Rattlers (21-25) close out the series on Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. RHP Cesar Rosado (2-2, 5.02) will start for the Bandits as Wisconsin turns to RHP Alec Bettinger (3-3, 4.20).
All River Bandits games are broadcast on 1170 K-BOB and TuneIn Radio. Home games are also available with video on MiLB.TV.