The Quad Cities River Bandits swept a doubleheader with the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Wednesday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium, winning the nightcap by an 8-4 score. The River Bandits finished the night with a Western Division leading 21 wins. Cedar Rapids jumped out to a quick lead, as they
The Quad Cities River Bandits swept a doubleheader with the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Wednesday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium, winning the nightcap by an 8-4 score. The River Bandits finished the night with a Western Division leading 21 wins.
Cedar Rapids jumped out to a quick lead, as they reached the board against Luis Garcia in the first inning. With two outs, Alex Kirilloff worked a walk and the next batter, Shane Carrier, launched a two-run home run to left to give the Kernels a 2-0 lead.
For the second time on the day, the River Bandits scored five runs in a big second inning. Jake Adams started the rally with a double off the left field wall. He scored on an infield single by Corey Julks, which included a throwing error on shortstop Royce Lewis. Colton Shaver grounded a single through the left side to put runners on the corners. Jonathan Lacroix singled into right in the next at bat to even the score at two. Jake Meyers broke the tie with a line drive three-run home run that cleared the top of the left field wall and put the River Bandits on top 5-2.
The Bandits kept their foot on the gas pedal in the third inning. Miguelangel Sierra started the frame with a single through the right side. Jake Adams was hit by a pitch from Cedar Rapids starter Randy Dobnak to put two on base with one out. Bryan De La Cruz ripped a line drive single into left field that scored Sierra and extended the advantage to 6-2.
The lead grew even more in the fifth inning. Ruben Castro led off with a double and raced home on an RBI single from Adams. After another single from De La Cruz, Shaver drove in Adams with a base hit to push the margin to 8-2.
Reliever Enoli Paredes worked himself into some trouble in the sixth inning, but escaped with an assist from fellow reliever Carlos Sanabria. Cedar Rapids had two runs in already and had loaded the bases thanks to three walks from Paredes. Alex Kirilloff was coming to the plate representing the tying run when manager Mickey Storey called on Sanabria. The right-hander induced a bouncer to first to end the inning and leave the base full. He then worked a clean seventh inning to end the game.
The River Bandits finished with 13 hits, one shy of their season-high. Shaver led all players with three hits. Sierra, Adams, and De La Cruz each added two.
Garcia worked 4.0 innings on the mound, allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out three and walked three. Paredes went 1.2 innings allowing two runs, one earned, on one hit. He walked four and struck out a pair. Sanabria tossed the final 1.1 innings without allowing a runner and struck out two.
The River Bandits (21-17) and Kernels (17-17) close out this five-game series on Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. The River Bandits hand the ball to LHP Parker Mushinski (1-0, 1.75) as Cedar Rapids counters with RHP Bailey Ober (0-1, 13.03).
All River Bandits games are broadcast on 1170 K-BOB and TuneIn Radio. Home games are also available with video on MiLB.TV.
