Early Home Runs, Sandoval's Pitching Guide Bandits to Win

The Quad Cities River Bandits used a couple of early home runs and another stellar start from Patrick Sandoval to beat the Beloit Snappers 6-2 on Saturday at Modern Woodmen Park. The win was the first of the second half for the first half champions in the Western Division.
The Bandits jumped out to a quick start by scoring in the first inning. With two outs, Miguelangel Sierra jumped on a high fastball from Beloit starter Mitchell Jordan and hammered it onto the berm beyond the left field wall for his fifth home run of the season. The solo blast made it 1-0.
In the second inning, Jonathan Lacroix reached base on a two-out walk in front of Chandler Taylor. Taylor, the Astros 10th round pick in this year's draft, notched his first professional hit on a two-run home run over the right field wall to increase the Bandits lead to 3-0. Alfredo Angarita added to the advantage with a two-out RBI single in the fourth inning that plated Michael Papierski and made it 4-0.

That score held until the eighth inning, when the Bandits tacked on once again. Lacroix singled with two outs in the frame to give Chandler another opportunity at the dish. The outfielder took advantage, booming a double into the gap in left center to grow the lead to 5-0. Later in the same inning, Angarita knocked Taylor in with another RBI single to open up a 6-0 margin.
Sandoval tossed 7.0 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out five in the process. The southpaw has allowed an earned run in just one of his last eight appearances.
Tanner Duncan came out of the bullpen and tossed a scoreless eighth inning before running into some trouble in the ninth. Beloit loaded the bases on a triple and two walks, but a pair of strikeouts had the reliever one out away from finishing the game. He struck out JaVon Shelby, but a passed ball charged to Papierski allowed a run to score and the game to continue. Duncan then walked Nick Allen to force in a run that made it 6-2 and brought the tying run to the plate. Brendan
Feldmann entered and induced Mickey McDonald to pop out on the first pitch he threw to close the game and pick up a save.
The River Bandits collected 11 hits in the contest. Taylor and Angarita each tallied three. Taylor was 3-4 with a double, home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Papierski walked in all four of his plate appearances.
The River Bandits (1-2, 41-32) and Snappers (2-1, 34-38) will finish out their four-game series with on Sunday evening at 5:15 p.m. RHP Enoli Paredes (1-3, 1.99) will take the hill for the Bandits against LHP Jared Poche (2-5, 4.63) of the Snappers.
All River Bandits games are broadcast on 1170 K-BOB and TuneIn Radio. Home games are also available with video on MiLB.TV.