The Quad Cities River Bandits and Cedar Rapids Kernels combined for five home runs, 31 hits, and 15 runs on Saturday night at Modern Woodmen Park. Cedar Rapids had more of each and outslugged the Bandits for a 9-6 win in the series opener.The Kernels opened the scoring in the
The Quad Cities River Bandits and Cedar Rapids Kernels combined for five home runs, 31 hits, and 15 runs on Saturday night at Modern Woodmen Park. Cedar Rapids had more of each and outslugged the Bandits for a 9-6 win in the series opener.
The Kernels opened the scoring in the top of the second inning. With two outs, Gabriel Maciel hammered a breaking ball onto the party deck behind the right field wall to give Cedar Rapids a 1-0 lead against starter Leovanny Rodriguez.
The lead grew substantially over the next three innings. Ryan Jeffers made it 2-0 with an RBI single in the third. The next hitter, Trevor Larnach, blasted his first home run in a Cedar Rapids uniform deep to right field to double the advantage to 4-0. Andrew Bechtold added a run to the lead with an RBI single in the fourth. In the fifth, Ben Rodriguez singled home a run and Maciel launched another home run, this one a two-run shot, to widen the gap to 8-0.
The River Bandits reached the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth. Chandler Taylor became the team's first baserunner when he walked to open the frame. Marty Costes advanced him to second base with a single that put two on with no outs. Miguelangel Sierra scored both runners by hooking a double into the left field corner.
Kernels infielder Michael Herman pushed the lead to 9-2 with a run-scoring single in the sixth before the Bandits countered with a pair in the bottom half. Colton Shaver led off the home half with a solo home run, his 13th of the campaign, and Sierra lifted a sacrifice fly into center field with the bases loaded later in the frame to reduce the deficit to 9-4.
That remained the score entering the last of the ninth. The Bandits last gasp began with a solo home run to right field from Michael Papierski. The long ball was the fourth of the season for the catcher. Logan Mattix followed with a base hit and was brought in two outs later when David Hensley singled to center. With the tying run in the on-deck circle, Chandler Taylor struck out to end the game.
Cedar Rapids totaled 18 hits, paced by four from Maciel. Helman, Bechtold and Trey Cabbage each added three. Every member of the Quad Cities lineup registered at least one hit. Papierski, Taylor, Hensley and Mattix all finished with a pair. Sierra collected three runs batted in.
Rodriguez worked 4.0 innings and allowed five runs on nine hits to take the loss. He has allowed 11 runs in his last 7.2 innings of work against Cedar Rapids. Tim hardy made his Bandits debut with 1.2 innings on the hill. He surrendered four runs on six hits while striking out three. Brendan Feldmann turned in 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and recording four strikeouts. Humberto Castellanos worked a scoreless ninth inning to finish off the night.
The River Bandits (26-22, 66-52) and Kernels (31-17, 63-54) meet once again on Sunday evening at 5:15 p.m. RHP Edgardo Sandoval (0-1, 2.25) takes the ball for the Bandits against Cedar Rapids RHP Jhoan Duran (6-4, 4.27).
All River Bandits games are broadcast on 1170 K-BOB and TuneIn Radio. Home games are also available with video on MiLB.TV.
