Bullpen, offense boost Bandits over TinCaps, 6-3
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (JULY 19, 2013) - In the first Minor League Baseball game featuring consecutive No. 1 overall picks on the field for the same team, the Quad Cities River Bandits bullpen followed 2013 top pick Mark Appel's four innings with five shutout frames, and 2012 top pick Carlos Correa hit a two-run home run in a 6-3 victory over the Fort Wayne TinCaps at Parkview Field Friday night.
In his second Midwest League start, Appel followed a one-out, first-inning single with consecutive strikeouts. In the second inning, he allowed a one-out single by left fielder Luis Domoromo. Two batters later, right fielder Corey Adamson drove a ball to right for a two-run home run - the first against Appel professionally - and a 2-0 TinCaps lead.
Quad Cities (15-11 second half, 53-42 overall) answered in the next inning against TinCaps right-hander Matthew Shepherd (4-2). Second baseman Austin Elkins drew a one-out walk, and Correa smashed a drive beyond the left-field fence for his sixth home run to tie the game, 2-2. Correa later added a double in his team-high 30th multi-hit game.
After Appel got three groundouts in a 1-2-3 third inning, Quad Cities took the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Right fielder Dan Gulbransen drove a leadoff double to right-center field and scored on designated hitter Bobby Borchering's RBI single through the middle for a 3-2 lead. Left fielder Jordan Scott then bounced a hit over first baseman Diego Goris that scored Borchering and put Scott on third base with an RBI triple. Scott scored on a sacrifice fly by center fielder Teoscar Hernandez for a 5-2 advantage. Shepherd was charged with five runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three batters in 3 2/3 innings.
Fort Wayne (10-17, 53-43) answered with a home run in the bottom of the inning, as third baseman Gabriel Quintana extended his 15-game hitting streak with a solo shot to left field off Appel. But the right-hander struck out the next two batters to finish four innings with a 5-3 lead after allowing three earned runs on a four hits with four strikeouts.
Right-hander Daniel Minor (6-1) started the fifth inning for Quad Cities and only allowed three hits - consecutive two-outs singles in the fifth inning and a two-out double in the seventh - while tossing three scoreless innings and striking out one. Quad Cities added a ninth-inning run on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Rio Ruiz, while right-hander Jordan Jankowski pitched the final two scoreless innings for his third save. Quad Cities pitchers have not issued a walk in 21 consecutive innings, and eight players had hits for the offense Friday.
Friday's victory gave Quad Cities its first-ever series win at Parkview Field and also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Saturday, July 20. Anyone who mentions the River Bandits victory can receive a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two lunches or dinners with beverages on Saturday, July 20.
The River Bandits continue their road trip with a three-game visit to Lake County, with the series opener at 6:00 p.m. Central Time Saturday. River Bandits right-hander Chris Devenski (0-1) will face Captains left-hander Ryan Merritt (5-9).
UP NEXT: Modern Woodmen Park is a nominee for the "Best Minor League Ballpark" in the 2013 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, and fans can vote once per day at 10Best.com until the winner is announced Aug. 14. The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park Tuesday, July 30. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at 563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 112 feet over the playing field, is planned for next spring, along with a carousel and other new games and attractions. This season, the team just unveiled a new 300-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, a Mediacom Frog Hopper, and a number of new bounce houses . The team also boasts a new major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, and fans can see the first team in Minor League Baseball history with back-to-back No. 1 overall draft picks - 2012 top pick Carlos Correa and 2013 top pick Mark Appel, as well as 2012 first-round draft choice Lance McCullers. With new rides, new attractions, new improvements, a new affiliate and future major league stars, the second half of this season is one every fan will not want to miss!