Missed Opportunities Haunt Bandits in 5-2 Defeat

The Quad Cities River Bandits went 0-9 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base in a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the South Bend Cubs on Thursday night at Modern Woodmen Park.  The Bandits had a runner on third base with less than two outs on three different occasions and failed to drive him in all three times.
The River Bandits were the first team on the board after scoring two runs in the third inning.  Alfredo Angarita opened the frame by belting a solo home run to right field for his first of the year. The home run was only the second of his career and the first since June of 2016 in the Dominican Summer League.   Later in the same inning, Seth Beer singled and came around to score on a double into the right center gap by Chandler Taylor.  Taylor's hit streak was extended to eight games.
Starting pitcher Cesar Rosado fired 5.0 scoreless, no-hit innings and departed with a 2-0 lead.  Leovanny Rodriguez followed him out of the bullpen and ran into trouble in the sixth.  The first two batters he faced came up with base hits and a walk loaded the bases with no outs.  Zach Smith hit a bouncer to first that was fielded by Colton Shaver.  The first baseman fired home to force out the lead runner, but the ball glanced off of catcher Michael Papierski's mitt and allowed two runs to score. An ensuing double play groundout allowed another run to score and gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead.

The final damage was provided via the long ball in the South Bend half of the eighth.  After a single from Christian Donahue, Austin Upshaw cranked a two-run home run to right field that opened the lead to 5-2 for the Cubs. Rodriguez ended up surrendering five runs, two earned, in 4.0 innings. 
The River Bandits outhit the Cubs 7-4.  Jonathan Lacroix was the only player on either team with more than one hit.
The River Bandits (13-13, 53-43) continue the series with South Bend (14-13, 48-48) at Modern Woodmen Park on Thursday at 6:35 p.m.  The Bandits will go with RHP Jairo Solis (1-3, 2.48) while the Cubs call on LHP Brendon Little (3-7, 5.05).
All River Bandits games are broadcast on 1170 K-BOB and TuneIn Radio.  Home games are also available with video on MiLB.TV.