Negret’s Two-Homer Night Helps Lift Bandits to Shutout Win

Davenport, Iowa – The Quad Cities River Bandits snapped a season-worst eight-game losing streak on Tuesday, blanking the Cedar Rapids Kernels 7-0 at Modern Woodmen Park for their sixth shutout victory of the season.

Juan Carlos Negret led the offense with his second multi-homer game of the season, launching a pair of bombs against Kernels’ starter Zebby Matthews. The outfielder is now tied for the Midwest League lead in homers with 16, notching a three-run go-ahead shot in the first and a solo shot in the third to give Quad Cities a 5-0 lead.

After starter Bandits’ starter Rylan Kaufman worked around a hit and five walks in 3.2 scoreless, Eric Cerantola (3-3) earned the win working a season-high 3.1 scoreless, hitless innings out of the bullpen.

Ben Wereski and Anthony Simonelli combined to close out the final two innings on the mound, with each striking out a pair in a scoreless frame.

Jean Ramirez and River Town also chipped in at the plate for Quad Cities, as Ramirez executed a safety squeeze for his first High-A RBI in the second, while Town drove in a run with a base hit up the middle in the sixth.

The River Bandits will host the Kernels for game two of the six-game set tomorrow night at Modern Woodmen Park. Cruz Noriega (3-3, 3.23) gets the start for Quad Cities against Cedar Rapids’ Kyle Jones (5-4, 4.52). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.