The Quad Cities River Bandits could not solve flame-throwing right-hander Brusdar Graterol or the Cedar Rapids Kernels bullpen in time as they dropped the series opener by a 5-1 score. Graterol struck out ten in 5.2 scoreless innings in front of 934 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The 10 strikeouts
The Quad Cities River Bandits could not solve flame-throwing right-hander Brusdar Graterol or the Cedar Rapids Kernels bullpen in time as they dropped the series opener by a 5-1 score. Graterol struck out ten in 5.2 scoreless innings in front of 934 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The 10 strikeouts were a season-high for an opposing pitcher.
The Kernels broke open a scoreless duel in the fourth inning. Alex Kirlilloff opened the inning by lining a double into the gap in left center. River Bandits starter Tyler Ivey walked the next hitter Shane Carrier to put two on base. Jean Carlos Arias laid down a bunt single along the third base line and Jonathan Arauz threw wide of first to allow each runner to advance 90 feet and the first run to score. Andrew Bechtold followed with a bouncer to first that scored a run and then Trey Cabbage capped the inning with a single into shallow center field that pushed the Cedar Rapids lead to 3-0.
The Kernels added to their lead by scoring a single run in both the fifth and sixth innings. Akil Baddoo and Royce Lewis opened the fifth with back-to-back singles to leave runners on the corners. The next batter, Kirilloff, grounded into a double play which pushed in a run. In the sixth, Arias got the inning started with a double and scored quickly on Bechtold's RBI single to widen the gap to 5-0.
The River Bandits were able to avoid being shut out by scoring a run in the ninth. With two outs, Jake Adams reached on an infield single and moved to second on a throwing error by the third baseman Bechtold. Michael Papierski scored Adams by dropping a single into shallow left field to narrow the deficit to 5-1. On the play, Papierski was thrown out trying to stretch the single into a double to end the game.
Ivey went 5.0 innings and allowed four runs, three of them earned, on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Peter Solomon followed with 3.0 innings, during which he gave up one run on three hits with six strikeouts.
The series between the River Bandits (19-16) and Kernels (16-15) continues on Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m. RHP Yohan Ramirez (3-2, 3.71) will pitch for the Bandits against RHP Edwar Colina (2-1, 1.47) of the Kernels.
All River Bandits games are broadcast on 1170 K-BOB and TuneIn Radio. Home games are also available with video on MiLB.TV.
