The Quad Cities River Bandits held off a late charge from the Clinton LumberKings on Thursday night to win 5-2 in the series finale. With the win, the Bandits swept the three-game set and moved into a three-way tie for first place with the LumberKings and Peoria Chiefs. The Bandits
The Quad Cities River Bandits held off a late charge from the Clinton LumberKings on Thursday night to win 5-2 in the series finale. With the win, the Bandits swept the three-game set and moved into a three-way tie for first place with the LumberKings and Peoria Chiefs.
The Bandits broke a scoreless tie with the help of a Clinton error in the fourth inning. With one out, Corey Julks singled up the middle and was promptly joined on base by Bryan De La Cruz, who worked a walk. Cody Bohanek loaded the bases with an infield single to the right side. In the next at bat, Colton Shaver hit a groundball to second baseman Joseph Rosa that appeared to lead to an inning-ending double play. However, shortstop Johnny Adams was ruled to have missed the second base bag with his foot so the runner was safe at second with a run scoring on the play. Miguelangel Sierra capped the inning with a two-RBI single into center field that gave the River Bandits a 3-0 lead.
Cesar Rosado had turned in six scoreless innings already when he stepped on the hill to begin the seventh. The right-hander hit Ariel Sandoval with the first pitch of the inning. Sandoval stole second base and moved to third on a throwing error by the catcher Ruben Castro. One pitch before striking out the side, Rosado was called for a balk which plated the runner from third to make it 3-1.
The River Bandits picked up two big insurance runs in the eighth inning. Alfredo Angarita reached on a throwing error by third baseman Eugene Helder with one out. He proceeded to steal second base and head to third on another throwing error by catcher Nick Thurman. Julks was hit by a pitch to place runners on the corners. De La Cruz lined a base hit into left field to score Angarita and with Julks racing to third the left fielder, Greifer Andrade, bobbled the ball, allowing Julks to motor home and increase the margin to 5-1.
Clinton loaded the bases against rehabbing reliever Dean Deetz in the top of the ninth on two walks and a single. Manager Mickey Storey Summoned Carlos Sanabria from the bullpen. Sanabria walked the first batter he faced to force in a run and put the tying run on first base. He rebounded to strike out Johnny Adams to bring an end to the game.
Starting pitcher Cesar Rosado tossed 7.2 innings and allowed just one unearned run on four hits while racking up nine strikeouts. Dean Deetz followed with 1.0 inning out of the pen, during which he surrendered one run on one hit and a pair of walks with two strikeouts. Carlos Sanabria finished the game by getting the final out and picking up a save in the process.
The Bandits closed the night with five hits. Rosa of Clinton was the only player in the game with more than one, as he finished with three.
The River Bandits (37-30) will begin their final series of the first half on Friday night at 6:35 p.m. when they welcome the Burlington Bees (30-36) to Modern Woodmen Park. The River Bandits will open the series with LHP Patrick Sandoval (6-1, 3.00) on the mound against Burlington RHP Denny Brady (0-0, 0.00).
All River Bandits games are broadcast on 1170 K-BOB and TuneIn Radio. Home games are also available with video on MiLB.TV.
