CASTILLO SPARKLES IN RIVER BANDITS DEBUT
Quad Cities (2-3, 35-34) snapped a three-game losing streak with the win as Cardinals' Vice President of Scouting and Player Development Jeff Luhnow looked on from the stands. Kane County (3-2, 42-31) was stifled by Castillo's fastball command early on and came up short in a late rally.
Castillo (1-0), an 18-year-old right-hander from Venezuela, did not allow a run or a hit over five impressive innings while winning his first game in a River Bandits uniform. He allowed just three baserunners on the night - all of which reached base consecutively on two errors and a walk in the fourth inning - while striking out six and leaving the game with a 5-0 lead after 80 pitches.
Meanwhile, the River Bandits took the lead in the bottom of the second thanks to a clutch two-out hit by Bolivar. With men at first and second, the 19-year-old third baseman smoked a liner back up the middle to plate Nick Peoples for a 1-0 edge.
As the innings passed by, Quad Cities extended their lead on two more "firsts." In the fourth inning, Oliver Marmol picked up his first hit in a River Bandits uniform on a two-run triple to left field. One inning later Peoples blasted his first home run of the year, a two-run shot that gave Quad Cities a 5-0 advantage.
Kane County cut the deficit to 5-2 in the top of the sixth, but the River Bandits got those runs right back in the bottom half of the frame. Paul Vazquez led off the inning with a single and advanced to second and third on a pair of dropped strike threes, as Bolivar and Marmol both struck out swinging on wild pitches. With Adron Chambers at the dish and two away, yet another wild pitch allowed Vazquez to race home. Moments later Chambers swatted a triple to the gap in right-center, and Pete Kozma brought him in with a flare single to left that pushed the River Bandits' lead to 7-2.
The Cougars added a single run in the top of the eighth but Quad Cities answered again in the bottom half, as Bolivar tripled and eventually scored on a two-out error. Although Kane County added two more runs in the top of the ninth, reliever Pete Parise closed the door in a non-save situation to clinch the 8-5 win.
Scott Mitchinson (5-3) took the loss for the Cougars, touched up for three runs on five hits over 3.2 innings of work.
UP NEXT: The River Bandits continue their home series against the Kane County Cougars with game two of a four-game series on a Two-for-Tuesday, also a Summer Camp Day with a special 1:00 p.m. start. Wednesday will be Survivor Night as well as a Wacky WINS-Day. The series concludes with a Thirst-day Thursday, featuring a FREE DIAMOND for one lucky lady thanks to the Quad-City Times diamond dig! Bandit Wear featuring the new team name and logo is currently available by visiting the Modern Woodmen Park team store, and season ticket packages, mini-packages, and the popular You-Pick-10 Plan are on sale at the park or by calling (563) 3-BANDITS!