11 Aug 2015

River Bandits Weekend Round-up

By Marco LaNave
DRAGONS DENY BANDITS A RECORD-TYING WIN STREAK
Dayton snaps Quad Cities' 12-game winning streak - one win from tying the franchise record
DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 9, 2015) - The Quad Cities River Bandits scored a first-inning run against Dayton Dragons right-hander Tejay Antone, but he lasted seven innings without allowing another run in Dayton's 3-1 win, snapping Quad Cities' second 12-game winning streak this season - again one game shy of the franchise record - in front of 2,701 at Modern Woodmen Park Sunday afternoon.
In the finale of a season-long nine-game, 10-day homestand, the River Bandits (29-14 second half, 74-37 overall) had their second chance in three months to tie the Quad Cities franchise-record 13-game winning streak by the Quad City Cubs to close the 1979 season. On Sunday, the River Bandits suffered their first loss since July 25 and first at home since July 18. Quad Cities maintained the best record in professional baseball through Sunday, while Dayton (19-24, 58-55) won for the third time in its last 18 road games.
Unlike the game that snapped their first 12-game winning streak - a 10-4 home loss to Beloit on May 12 - the River Bandits held a lead in Sunday's game. Left fielder Jason Martin hit a leadoff single in the first inning against Antone (6-9), who overthrew first base on a pickoff attempt, allowing Martin to reach third base. After designated hitter Bobby Boyd walked, second baseman Nick Tanielu grounded into a fielder's choice that scored Martin for a 1-0 lead.
Quad Cities missed its best opportunity to add to the lead after loading the bases with no outs in the fourth inning. Tanielu had an infield single, right fielder Drew Ferguson had a bunt single, and center fielder Ramon Laureano reached on a sacrifice bunt that catcher Chadwick Tromp threw late to third base. But Antone got River Bandits catcher Trent Woodward to ground to first baseman Avain Rachal to start a double play - the third the Dragons turned in the first four innings - and Antone struck out first baseman Ryan Bottger to end the inning.
River Bandits right-hander Brock Dykxhoorn (6-4), who also started and lost the River Bandits' streak-snapping game May 12, began Sunday by scattering three hits and a walk without allowing a run for the first four innings. The Dragons nearly scored the tying run in the fourth inning when left fielder Jimmy Pickens hit a two-out single to right field, but Ferguson threw out third baseman Gavin LaValley at home plate. In the fifth inning, however, center fielder Narciso Crook led off with a first-pitch home run to the Modern Woodmen Berm - the first against a Quad Cities pitcher since July 25 - that tied the game, 1-1.
The Dragons took the lead in the sixth inning, as right fielder Aristides Aquino doubled on a ground ball down the third-base line, stole third base and scored on Dykxhoorn's wild pitch. Dykxhoorn retired the final five batters to finish seven innings - matching a career high set July 2 - and was charged with two earned runs on six hits and one walk with eight strikeouts.
With a 2-1 Dayton lead, Boyd led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a single to center field and stole second base with no outs. After Antone got Tanielu to fly out to right field, Tromp threw out Boyd trying to steal third base for the second out, and the River Bandits had only one baserunner after that, as Antone and left-hander Mike Sullivan combined to retire the last eight batters. Sullivan earned his first Midwest League save, after Dragons second baseman Cory Thompson added an insurance run on a solo home run to the Modern Woodmen Berm beginning the eighth inning against left-hander Zach Davis to make it 3-1. Davis then retired the last six Dragons batters of the game.
After a Midwest League-wide off day Monday, the River Bandits visit the Fort Wayne TinCaps for the first time in two years at Parkview Field for a three-game series. Quad Cities right-hander Justin Ferrell (3-2) is scheduled to start Tuesday's series opener at 6:05 p.m. Central.
UP NEXT: The River Bandits have two specialty jerseys in MiLB.com's Jersey Joust contest to decide the best specialty jersey in Minor League Baseball. Visit riverbandits.com for a link to vote until Aug. 25 for the 2014 Autism Awareness Jersey and 2015 Boy Scout Jersey. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

BANDITS ACHIEVE 2ND 12-GAME WINNING STREAK

Quad Cities whitewashes Dayton, 10-0, for fourth shutout in seven games, moves to baseball-best 74-36

DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 8, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits right hander Joshua James matched a career high with seven strikeouts in six shutout innings, and his teammates scored nine runs in the sixth through eighth innings to seal a 10-0 victory over the Dayton Dragons, tying the River Bandits' season high of 12 straight wins in front of 5,211 at Modern Woodmen Park Saturday night.

Pitching their fourth shutout in seven games and 14th of the season - their most since 2001 - the River Bandits (29-13 second half, 74-36 overall) tied their longest winning streak of the season, set April 29-May 11, when their 12 straight wins were the most for a Quad Cities Midwest League team since a franchise-record 13-game winning streak by the Quad City Cubs to close the 1979 season. The River Bandits also won their 10th straight home game since July 19, tying a 2013 home winning streak that was the club's longest since at least 2001.

Dayton right-hander Wyatt Strahan (6-9) did not allow a hit until two outs in the fifth inning, but Quad Cities took the lead without the help of a hit in the third inning. Third baseman Luis Reynoso led off the third by reaching second base when Strahan fielded a ground ball and overthrew first base. Shortstop Kristian Trompiz sacrificed Reynoso to third base, before left fielder Jason Martin drew a walk. Center fielder Bobby Boyd then hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Reynoso for a 1-0 lead.

While James (5-2) held Dayton (18-24, 57-55) to one runner in scoring position in the first six innings, the River Bandits added another run against Strahan in the bottom of the sixth inning. Leading off the inning, Boyd extended his eight-game hitting streak with an infield single to shortstop Luis Gonzalez. Strahan's wild pitch moved Boyd to second base, and second baseman Nick Tanielu chopped an infield single to second baseman Cory Thompson. With runners at first and third bases, designated hitter Bryan Muñiz grounded into a double play that scored Boyd. Strahan finished six innings, allowing two runs - one earned - on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

With a 2-0 lead starting the seventh inning, James allowed a leadoff double to Dragons third baseman Gavin LaValley and single by left fielder Argenis Aldazoro to put runners at first and third bases with no outs. Right-hander Eric Peterson relieved James by walking center fielder Narciso Crook to load the bases. With the tying runs in scoring position, Peterson struck out catcher Garrett Boulware looking and got Gonzalez to ground to Tanielu, who threw to Trompiz to begin an inning-ending double play that preserved the shutout. After Peterson worked two hitless innings with one walk and two strikeouts, left-hander Steve Naemark walked one and struck out one in the ninth inning.

After escaping a bases-loaded jam defensively in the top of the seventh inning, the River Bandits capitalized offensively with loaded bases in the bottom of the inning against left-hander Jacob Moody. Catcher Garrett Stubbs drew a leadoff walk, Reynoso reached on a one-out infield single, and Moody issued three straight two-out walks to Martin, Boyd and Tanielu, forcing in two runs for a 4-0 Quad Cities lead.

Dragons right-hander Jake Ehret recorded the final out in the seventh inning but allowed the largest inning of the night in the bottom of the eighth. He began by hitting right fielder Ramon Laureano with a pitch and walking Stubbs and Bottger to load the bases, before Reynoso's RBI single to left field. Trompiz brought in another run by grounding into a fielder's choice, but Gonzalez's throwing error scored another run and put Trompiz at second base. Boyd hit a two-out RBI single to right field for his sixth straight multi-hit game, and Tanielu capped the six-run inning with his fifth home run of the year on a two-run blast to the Modern Woodmen Berm for a 10-0 River Bandits advantage.

BANDITS EXPLOIT DRAGONS FOR 11TH STRAIGHT WIN
Quad Cities takes advantage of 5 Dayton errors to roll to 7-1 win in series opener
DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 7, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits center fielder Bobby Boyd was 3-for-4 with a double and a run, and River Bandits pitchers combined to allow hold the Dayton Dragons scoreless after a first-inning run in a 7-1 victory and Quad Cities' 11th straight win in front of 5,003 at Modern Woodmen Park Friday night.
Capitalizing on five Dayton errors to score five unearned runs, the River Bandits (28-13 second half, 73-36) extended their current winning streak to within one of matching their season high of 12 straight wins they posted April 29-May 11. Quad Cities also won its ninth straight home game, although when Dayton scored in the first inning Friday, the River Bandits trailed at home game for the first time since July 18.
Dayton (18-23, 57-54) began the first inning with back-to-back baserunners, as shortstop Cory Thompson was hit by a pitch and second baseman Shed Long singled to center field, advancing Thompson to third base. River Bandits starting pitcher Elieser Hernandez (2-1) got first baseman Paul Kronenfeld to ground out to third, which sent Long to second base. With right fielder Aristides Aquino batting, Hernandez threw a wild pitch allowing Thompson to score for the Dragons. The run was the first allowed in the last 41 1/3 innings by a Quad Cities starting pitcher since Beloit scored twice against Justin Ferrell in the fifth inning July 29.
Hernandez responded by retiring 11 batters in order and going on to pitch five innings, allowing three hits and no walks with five strikeouts. Right-hander Brandon McNitt pitched three shutout innings, and right-hander Jorge Perez pitched a scoreless final frame.
Quad Cities went in order in the first two innings without hitting the ball out of the infield against Dayton starter Tyler Mahle (11-6). However, in the third inning, second baseman Jose Fernandez hit a ground ball that was dropped by Thompson at shortstop, giving Quad Cities its first base runner. The River Bandits wasted no time taking the lead on a first-pitch double by catcher Garrett Stubbs and a first-pitch, two-run single by shortstop Kristian Trompiz, putting Quad Cities ahead, 2-1.
The third-inning rally continued with left fielder Jason Martin's single to right field, where Aquino misplayed the ball, allowing Trompiz to score and Martin to advance to second base on the second Dragons error of the inning. Boyd then collected the first and softest of his three hits - a bunt single up the third-base line that spun past Gavin LaValley and stayed fair, moving Martin to third base. Third baseman Nick Tanielu then flied out to deep left field, deep enough to score Martin from third, making it 4-1, with two of the four runs unearned.
The River Bandits scored in the same innings Dayton committed errors Friday. In the fifth inning, Boyd and Tanielu hit consecutive two-out singles and then executed a double steal attempt, on which Long missed a throw to second base by catcher Garrett Boulware, and Boyd scored an unearned run for a 5-1 Quad Cities lead. Mahle was charged with five runs - two earned - on seven hits and one walk with two strikeouts in six innings, and he lost for the first time in the second half of the season.
In the seventh inning, a rally started with Martin's bunt that Kronenfeld was unable to field at first base, and was the fourth error charged to Dayton. Martin made it to third base on Boyd's double, and scored on a balk by reliever Ty Sterner, making it a 6-1 River Bandits lead.
The last run came in the bottom of the eighth inning, as second baseman Jose Fernandez tripled with two outs and scored on Stubbs' ground ball that went through the LaValley's legs at third base - the fifth and final error on the Dragons - to make it 7-1.
10 Aug 2015

BUMPER CARS JOIN MODERN WOODMEN PARK AMUSEMENTS

By Marco LaNave
Spin Zone Bumper Cars from Amusement Products will be added to the K&K Hardware Kids Zone
DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 7, 2015) - Already home to award-winning improvements and amusements rides, Modern Woodmen Park will give its guests another unique thrill, as the Spin Zone Bumper Cars had their ribbon cutting Friday at the ballpark. A set of five cars have been installed in the K&K Hardware Kids Zone adjacent to the Party Plaza down the first-base line at Modern Woodmen Park.
The bumper cars add to a fun-packed lineup of amusements that includes the Ferris wheel atop the berm in left field, the Mediacom Drop'N Twist and Space Camp in the Party Plaza, as well as the dual zip line that operates on South Gaines Street outside the ballpark on game days.
Each of the Spin Zone Bumper Cars from Amusement Products seat one driver, who controls the car with a lever on each side of the car. The drivers can bump their cars into one another, and for added excitement, if a driver hits another car on one of its Spin Zone Targets, that car will be sent into three 360-degree revolutions while it flashes LED lights - showing other drivers the car has been hit. The ride operator can also add to the fun with Chaos Mode that sends all cars into similar spins.
"Every kid loves bumper cars, so the Spin Zone Bumper Cars make a great addition to the Modern Woodmen Park amusements lineup," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "Now, for the first time at any ballpark, our fans can create their own amusement experience - by driving the Spin Zone Bumper Cars, sending other cars into crazy spins, and delighting riders and viewers with a light show and unpredictable - and unforgettable - fun!"
The amusements are open during all River Bandits home games, normally beginning 60 minutes before the scheduled first pitch. The Ferris wheel is also open every Saturday - weather permitting - from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., as well as Saturday non-game days 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Spin Zone Bumper Cars will cost five tickets. Fans can purchase tickets for $1 each or buy 25 tickets for $20
07 Aug 2015

BANDITS PARTNER WITH AUGUSTANA COLLEGE TO CREATE 3RD BANDIT SCHOLARSHIP

By Marco LaNave
New annual scholarship will help cover first year of tuition at Augustana and include summer internship
DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 6, 2015) - The Quad Cities River Bandits are expanding the Bandit Scholars Program with the addition of a third Bandit Scholarship, which will be open annually to Quad Cities-area students entering Augustana College, River Bandits owner Dave Heller and Augustana College President Steve Bahls announced at a press conference Thursday at Modern Woodmen Park.
The new annual scholarship will be awarded beginning with the high school class of 2016. Like the two other annual Bandit Scholarships awarded to Quad Cities-area high school or home-schooled seniors,  the new scholarship will be paid directly to the college and will supplement the grants and scholarships (if any) the recipient has earned ensuring the student's first year of tuition will be covered at no expense to them or their families. All three annual Bandit Scholarship winners will also enjoy a summer internship with the River Bandits following their first year of college.
"This great partnership with Augustana College is a true win-win in every sense," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "Augustana will have a student each year earn an internship opportunity with first-hand experience with a first-rate professional sports organization, and the River Bandits will be able to continue to offer internships to the very best and brightest students in our region, while each year helping another Quad Cities-area family afford college."
The Bandit Scholarships are open to current high school or home-schooled seniors who reside in any of the following counties: Henry, Mercer, Rock Island and Whiteside Counties on the Illinois side, and Cedar, Louisa, Muscatine and Scott Counties on the Iowa side. The recipients are selected by a committee made up of community leaders, River Bandits ownership and staff and volunteers of the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend (CFGRB), which administers the scholarships.
"We are so grateful for the support of the Quad Cities River Bandits and other organizations who help fund scholarships for Augustana students," said Augustana College President Steve Bahls. "The River Bandits are a great partner for Augustana and the entire Quad Cities."
The Bandit Scholars Program was founded in 2009 by Quad Cities River Bandits team owners Dave Heller and Bob Herrfeldt. In addition to the new scholarship awarded to a student entering Augustana College, one scholarship is awarded annually to a student entering the University of Iowa, and another to a student entering either Black Hawk College or Western Illinois University.
The scholarships are funded by fan donations and fund-raising efforts by the River Bandits and the team's ownership. Fundraising events include the annual Bandits Race to Home 5K and River Bandits golf outing. Through the partnership with the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend, donors can make online, tax-deductible donations to the Bandit Scholars Program by going to www.cfgrb.org. Fans can also visit the Bandit Scholars Program page on the team's website, www.riverbandits.com, and follow a link to the Bandit Scholars page on the Foundation's website
07 Aug 2015

River Bandits Keep Rollin' Along - Winning Streak Now at 10

By Marco LaNave
BANDITS BLANK HOT RODS FOR SWEEP, 10TH STRAIGHT WIN
Barrios extends streak of 41 consecutive scoreless innings by Quad Cities starters
DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 6, 2015) - Agapito Barrios threw six shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out five while walking one, and a solo homer by designated hitter Bryan Muniz in the fourth inning was all the River Bandits needed, as they swept the Bowling Green Hot Rods, 2-0, and won their 10th straight game in front of 4,317 at Modern Woodmen Park Thursday night.
The River Bandits (27-13 second half, 72-36 overall) shut out Bowling Green (19-21, 56-53) for the second time in three games, and outscored the Hot Rods, 15-3, in the three-game series. Quad Cities has its second double-digit win streak of the season, following 12 straight wins April 29-May 11, which was the team's first double-digit winning streak since 2002. This season, the 15 other Midwest League teams have combined for two double-digit win streaks (10 games each by Great Lakes and Kane County).
After allowing a leadoff single in the fourth inning to Hot Rods third baseman Grant Kay, Barrios (1-0) retired the final nine batters he faced and struck out two in the sixth inning to finish his outing. In two starts with Quad Cities, Barrios has pitched 11 shutout innings, allowing three hits and one walk with eight strikeouts. Quad Cities starting pitchers have not allowed a run in the last seven games - a streak of 41 consecutive scoreless innings.
Following Barrios, Ryan Thompson retired all six men he faced, striking out three, in the seventh and eighth innings, and Angel Heredia allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth for his sixth save of the season. The River Bandits' Midwest League-leading 13th shutout is their most since 14 shutouts in 2001.
Muñiz got the scoring started in the bottom of the fourth inning on a blast off Hot Rods starter Henry Centeno (6-7) to the top of the Modern Woodmen berm in straight-away left field - his first Midwest League home run of the season in 19 games with Quad Cities - to give the River Bandits the 1-0 lead. Muñiz also had a double as part of his fourth multi-hit outing in his last five games.
Despite the 11 hits, Quad Cities only mustered one more run. In the sixth inning, first baseman Ryan Bottger reached on an error by Hot Rods first baseman Coty Blanchard and advanced to second base on a single by catcher Trent Woodward. After third baseman Luis Reynoso struck out, a two-out single by shortstop Kristian Trompiz drove in Bottger, doubling the River Bandits' lead to 2-0. Bottger, Muñiz, Trompiz and center fielder Bobby Boyd each had two hits. Boyd finished 6-for-11 in the series against Bowling Green.
The River Bandits open their final series of their season-long nine-game, 10-day homestand with the first of three games against the Dayton Dragons at 7 p.m. Friday. Right-handers Elieser Hernandez (1-1, 1.96) of Quad Cities and Tyler Mahle (11-5, 2.51) of Dayton are scheduled to pitch the series opener.
UP NEXT: Gates open at 6 p.m. for Autism Awareness Night, when the River Bandits will wear special caps to be auctioned during the game to benefit the Quad Cities Autism Center. The 7 p.m. game is a Fireworks Friday presented by Smart Toyota of Quad Cities, WLLR and WQAD. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.
SEVEN-RUN SECOND FUELS BANDITS' 9TH STRAIGHT WIN
Garrett Stubbs has a career-high three hits with two RBI doubles, and Dean Deetz earns first Midwest League win
DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 6, 2015) - Dean Deetz pitched five shutout innings in his first Midwest League start, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out four, and the River Bandits' seven-run rally on six hits in the second inning helped power Quad Cities to a ninth straight win with a 10-3 victory over the Bowling Green Hot Rods in front of 2,144 at Modern Woodmen Park Wednesday night.
The solid start by Deetz (1-0) extended a scoreless streak by River Bandits starting pitchers to 35 consecutive innings over the last six games. In his five innings Wednesday, Deetz retired the side in order twice, and had two strikeouts in his fifth and final inning of work.
Quad Cities (26-13 second half, 71-36 overall) erupted for seven runs in the second inning, bringing 11 men to the plate and chasing Hot Rods starter Brad Wallace (2-3) after just 1 2/3 innings. Designated hitter Drew Ferguson began the frame with a double to left, followed by a double to center by catcher Garrett Stubbs to score Ferguson and put the River Bandits on the board. Third baseman Luis Reynoso singled, moving Stubbs to third, and after shortstop Kristian Trompiz flied out to left, a double by left fielder Jason Martin scored both Stubbs and Reynoso, making it 3-0.
The rally continued with Martin stealing third base before a walk to center fielder Bobby Boyd, who was then caught stealing with second baseman Nick Tanielu at the plate. With Martin at third base, Tanielu tripled to the right-field corner and scored on an RBI single by first baseman Bryan Muñiz, who was the last batter in Wallace's day. Reliever Ryan Pennell walked right fielder Ramon Laureano on four pitches and then committed a two-base throwing error on a ground ball by Ferguson, hitting for the second time in the inning. The errant throw got past first baseman Alec Sole, allowing both Muñiz and Laureano to score, making it a 7-0 River Bandits lead.
With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Laureano was hit by a pitch, and Ferguson walked, followed by Stubbs' second RBI double, making it an 8-0 lead. Ferguson, who advanced to third on Stubbs' double, scored on Reynoso's fly ball to right, extending the lead to 9-0.
Bowling Green (19-20, 56-53) cut into the lead in the sixth inning against reliever Jorge Perez with three consecutive run-scoring plays. With runners on the corners and one out, left fielder Bralin Jackson singled home third baseman Grant Kay to put the Hot Rods on the board, ending a 15 1/3 scoreless streak to begin the series. James then grounded out, scoring designated hitter Hunter Lockwood, and a Sole double plated Jackson, making it a 9-3 game.
Six runs was the closest the Hot Rods came, as the River Bandits strung together three straight two-out singles in the sixth, culminating in a Trompiz RBI single, putting Quad Cities into double digits for the second time in its current winning streak. Every River Bandit had at least one hit, led by Stubbs' career-high three hits, including two doubles for his first two career extra-base hits.
Quad Cities left-hander Zach Davis struck out two in the seventh inning and retired all six batters he faced, and newcomer and fellow left-hander Steve Naemark worked a perfect ninth inning in his Midwest League debut.
BANDITS BLANK BOWLING GREEN FOR 8TH STRAIGHT WIN
Quad Cities wins, 3-0, by pitching club's Midwest League-high 12th shutout of 2015
DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 4, 2015) - Justin Ferrell became the first Quad Cities River Bandits pitcher this season to go 7 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts, and Eric Peterson pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, as the River Bandits shut out the Bowling Green Hot Rods, 3-0, for their eighth straight win in front of 3,011 at Modern Woodmen Park Tuesday night.
Ferrell (3-2) delivered the longest outing by a River Bandits starter this season, surpassing the 7 1/3 he threw in a start on July 12 against Burlington. Ferrell was removed from the game in the top of the eighth inning after allowing a two-out single to second baseman Riley Unroe. Reliever Eric Peterson needed only one pitch to get left fielder Bralin Jackson to fly out to right, and then struck out the side in the ninth inning around a one-out hit batsman to earn his team-best sixth save of 2015.
Quad Cities (25-13 second half, 70-36) got on the board in the third inning against starter Yonny Chirinos (3-2) on a rally started by a one-out walk to second baseman Luis Reynoso. After Kristian Trompiz flied out to center, left fielder Jason Martin dumped a ball into shallow right field for a hit, advancing Reynoso to third, and reaching second himself as the throw went towards third. With center fielder Bobby Boyd batting, a passed ball by catcher Nick Ciuffo allowed Reynoso to score and Martin to get to third, putting Quad Cities ahead, 1-0.
Bowling Green (19-19, 56-52) had several opportunities to get a rally started against Ferrell, as the leadoff man reached base in four straight innings, beginning with a double by right fielder Justin Williams in the second inning. Each time, Ferrell was able to prevent the runner from scoring. The Hot Rods stranded seven men on base in the game.
The River Bandits extended their lead in the bottom of the seventh against Chirinos, beginning with a leadoff single by right fielder Ramon Laureano. With first baseman Ryan Bottger batting, a wild pitch advanced Laureano into scoring position. Bottger immediately took advantage of the extra 90 feet, hitting a single into center field drive in Laureano, and when center fielder Thomas Milone misplayed the ball, Bottger was able to reach second on the error. Catcher Trent Woodward then hit a ground ball to first base that moved Bottger over to third. Reynoso made it a 3-0 lead on a base hit up the middle to score Bottger.
The River Bandits' second shutout in the last three games gives them 12 shutouts this season, marking their most in a season since 2004. Quad Cities became the first team in baseball to win 70 games this season and clinched a winning record with 32 games still remaining in the 2015 regular season. The team's record of 34 games above .500 is the club's best since finishing the 1992 season at 91-46.
07 Aug 2015

TANIELU, HEREDIA WIN ASTROS' JULY HONORS

By Marco LaNave

Four River Bandits alumni named Player or Pitcher of the Month at their respective Houston affiliates

DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 4, 2015) - Infielder Nick Tanielu is the Quad Cities River Bandits Player of the Month for July, and right-handed pitcher Angel Heredia is the team's Pitcher of the Month, the Houston Astros announced on Monday.

The Houston Astros Player Development Department named a Player and Pitcher of the Month at each of their minor league affiliate. These awards are chosen every month by the field staff of each team. Led by the River Bandits' 69-36 record through Sunday, the Astros have the best combined overall minor league record among all major league clubs at 359-289 - a .554 winning percentage. Six of the Astros' nine minor league clubs were in first place through Sunday.

Tanielu, drafted in the 14th round by Houston in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Washington State University, led the River Bandits with a .340 batting average, 34 hits, 11 doubles and 24 RBIs. The 22-year-old Huntsville, Ala., native and 2015 Midwest League All-Star also slugged .510, had an on-base percentage of .378, hit two home runs, and committed just three errors in a team-high 26 games defensively. Tanielu entered Tuesday fifth in the Midwest League and sixth among Houston Astros minor leaguers in batting average (.315) and fifth in the league in RBIs (56). He also leads Quad Cities this season in hits (107), doubles (24) and total bases (147). Tanielu won his second career monthly award, as he was the Player of the Month for Short-Season Class-A Tri-City in July 2014.

Heredia, signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Astros on April 20, 2012, out of Palenque, Dominican Republic, made seven relief appearances for the River Bandits in July, posting a 2-1 record and allowing one earned run in 16 2/3 innings for a 0.54 ERA. The 23-year-old converted three of five save opportunities and had 16 strikeouts while allowing seven hits and five walks. Named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Week for June 29-July 5, Heredia won his fourth career monthly honor, adding to his Pitcher of the Month awards for the Dominican Summer League Astros in June 2013 and August 2013, as well as for rookie-level Greeneville in July 2014.

For other Houston Astros affiliates, four former River Bandits were recognized as Player or Pitcher of the Month in July. Tyler White (2014) was the Player of the Month for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies. For Double-A Corpus Christi, Michael Feliz (2014) was the Pitcher of the Month. With Class-A Advanced Lancaster, Ronnie Mitchell (2014) won Player of the Month, and Keegan Yuhl, who pitched with the River Bandits in 2014 and started the 2015 season with Quad Cities, was the JetHawks Pitcher of the Month.

03 Aug 2015

Bandits Have Another Perfect Weekend in Front of 19,000+ Fans

By Marco LaNave

SOLID PITCHING SECURES BANDITS' SWEEP OF RATTLERS

Dykxhoorn, McNitt, and Thompson throw eight shutout innings in 6-1 win

DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 2, 2015) - Brock Dykxhoorn threw five shutout innings for the second consecutive start, and the Quad Cities River Bandits offense recorded a double-digit hit total for the second straight night, as the River Bandits beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 6-1, for their seventh straight win in front of 3,825 at Modern Woodmen Park Sunday night.

Dykxhoorn (6-3) repeated his July 26 outing in Burlington by not allowing a run in five innings. Bettering his other numbers from last Sunday, Dykxhoorn struck out eight while allowing only one hit. In his return to the active roster, Brandon McNitt followed with two shutout innings of his own, allowing two hits and striking out a pair. Ryan Thompson struck out two and walked one in a scoreless eighth inning, while Angel Heredia allowed the lone run to Wisconsin (13-23 second half, 36-70 overall) on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Sthervin Matos in the ninth inning.

The River Bandits (24-14, 69-36) got to Timber Rattlers starter David Burkhalter (3-7) early, striking for three runs in the bottom of the second. With one out, first baseman Bryan Muñiz, who had reached in six straight plate appearances coming into the day, doubled to left center field. In the second inning, second baseman Jose Fernandez followed the Muniz double with a booming shot to left that landed halfway up the berm, his first home run in the Midwest League this season, making it a 2-0 Quad Cities lead. Catcher Garrett Stubbs followed the homer with a walk, and after third baseman Luis Reynoso struck out swinging, advanced to second on a walk to shortstop Kristian Trompiz. Jason Martin then singled to right, scoring Stubbs from second base and increasing the River Bandits lead to 3-0.

A Stubbs walk in the fourth inning started another run-scoring rally, followed by a bunt single by Reynoso and a Trompiz sacrifice bunt, moving runners to second and third. Martin hit a fly ball to left field, deep enough to score Stubbs from third, making it 4-0, and center fielder Bobby Boyd followed with a double off the top of the ribbon board in right field, scoring Reynoso and making it a 5-0 game.

That score remained until the seventh, when Fernandez reached on a fielder's choice and went to third base on a Stubbs single, but Wisconsin third baseman Sthervin Matos made a throwing error trying to get Stubbs at second base, which allowed Fernandez to score.

Muñiz set a River Bandits season high by extending his on-base streak to nine consecutive plate appearances. After his first-inning double, he was hit by a pitch in the third inning and had a bloop double down the right-field line in the fifth inning before flying out to center field in the seventh inning.

The entire Midwest League has an off day on Monday, and the River Bandits will look to extend their seven-game winning streak on Tuesday with the first of three games against the Bowling Green Hot Rods. Right-hander Justin Ferrell (2-2, 2.77) will be on the mound for Quad Cities, while right-hander Yonny Chirinos (3-1, 0.75) will throw for Bowling Green.

THREE BANDITS COMBINE TO SHUT OUT WISCONSIN

After James, Freeman and Ferrell blank Wisconsin, Quad Cities has its most shutouts since 2010

DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 1, 2015) - Joshua James went 5 2/3 shutout innings, followed by Michael Freeman retiring seven straight batters and Riley Ferrell working a scoreless inning, while the Quad Cities River Bandits' offense pounded out 15 hits in their sixth straight win - a 5-0 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in front of 7,318 at Modern Woodmen Park Saturday night.

The River Bandits (23-13 second half, 68-36 overall) had a hit from every player in their lineup to extend the club's longest winning streak since a season-high 12-game winning streak April 29-May 11. Quad Cities became the first team in baseball to win 68 games this season and continued to improve upon the franchise's best overall record - now 32 games above .500 - in 23 seasons.

After allowing 11 runs in his last 11 innings, James (4-2) allowed just six men to reach on Saturday, yielding three hits and walking three batters while striking out four. With a 3-0 lead, the right-hander gave way to Freeman in the sixth inning with runners at first and second bases and two out. A passed ball moved two runners into scoring position before Freeman struck out McCall, ending the inning. Freeman went on to strike out three more in his outing, turning things over to Ferrell in the ninth. Ferrell walked one batter in an otherwise spotless inning to lower his earned run average to 1.20 in 10 appearances and close the door on the club's 11th shutout - its most in five seasons.

Wisconsin (13-22, 36-69) put James in a jam right away with back-to-back, two-out baserunners in the first inning on a hit by catcher Carlos Leal and a walk to right fielder Elvis Rubio. James was able to recover, getting first baseman Alan Sharkey to pop out to shortstop Kristian Trompiz to end the inning. The Timber Rattlers had only three baserunners reach scoring position, with one left on base in the first inning and two in the sixth inning.

The River Bandits' offense got started with a first-inning, two-out rally of their own. Second baseman Nick Tanielu doubled to left and then scored on a Ryan Bottger single to left field to put Quad Cities ahead, 1-0. After a walk to designated hitter Ramon Laureano, third baseman Jose Fernandez drove in Bottger on a base hit to right, doubling the lead.

Quad Cities added another run in the third inning. Laureano walked and was eventually retired at home plate on a fielder's choice that allowed Fernandez to reach first base. Then first baseman Bryan Muñiz singled to left field, and an error by Wisconsin left fielder Mitch Meyer allowed Fernandez to score the third run of the game. Timber Rattlers left-hander David Carver (1-2) was charged with three runs - two earned - on eight hits and three walks with one strikeout in 5 1/3 innings.

The last two runs of the night for the River Bandits came in the eighth inning against left-hander Tyler Linehan. Fernandez led off with an infield single and stole second base before scoring on a single by Muñiz. A wild pitch moved Muñiz to second base with one out, and Trompiz reached on an infield single to put runners at first and third bases. Martin added an RBI single to right field to score Muñiz for a 5-0 River Bandits lead.

RECORD MODERN WOODMEN PARK CROWD BOOSTS BANDITS

Quad Cities treats 8,207 to fifth straight win to improve to 31 games above .500

DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 1, 2015) - In front of 8,207 - the franchise's largest home crowd in at least 14 seasons - Quad Cities River Bandits right-hander Elieser Hernandez pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings for his first Midwest League win, and All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu went 3-for-4 with three RBIs in a 7-1 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Modern Woodmen Park Friday night.

The River Bandits (22-13 second half, 67-36 overall) won their fifth straight game for their longest winning streak since a season-high 12-game winning streak April 29-May 11. They are also 31 games above .500 for what is believed to be the first time in 23 seasons. The 1992 Quad City River Bandits went 91-46 overall and were the last team in franchise history to finish a season at least 29 games above .500.

Before Wisconsin (13-21, 36-68) managed a hit off Hernandez (1-1), Quad Cities built a 4-0 lead in the second inning. Timber Rattlers right-hander Angel Ventura (5-5) began the bottom of the second inning by walking left fielder Drew Ferguson. After right fielder Ramon Laureano flied out to left field, second baseman Jose Fernandez hit a line drive down the third-base line for an RBI triple. First baseman Ryan Bottger lined out to Timber Rattlers first baseman Alan Sharkey for the second out, but catcher Trent Woodward reached when second baseman Tucker Neuhaus made an errant throw to first base, allowing Fernandez to score. The error extended the inning for shortstop Kristian Trompiz, who hit his fifth home run (first since June 1) over the Modern Woodmen Berm in left field for a 4-0 lead.

Hernandez yielded his first hit with two outs in the third inning, when Timber Rattlers shortstop Blake Allemand doubled to right field. Hernandez responded by striking out three of the next four batters. The only Wisconsin baserunner to reach third base against Hernandez was third baseman Sthervin Matos in the fifth inning. Hernandez hit Matos with a pitch for the second time in the game to lead off the fifth inning, and after left fielder Mitch Meyer's sacrifice and center fielder Francisco Castillo's two-out infield single, Hernandez got Allemand to fly out to center field, stranding runners at first and third bases with a 4-0 lead.

The River Bandits added a run off Ventura in the fifth inning, after designated hitter Jason Martin reached following a strikeout on Ventura's second wild pitch. Tanielu then doubled to right field, bringing in Martin for a 5-0 lead. Ventura lasted five innings, allowing five runs - two earned - on six hits and one walk with seven strikeouts. Right-hander Gian Rizzo pitched a scoreless bottom of the sixth inning.

The last two River Bandits runs came off left-hander Kodi Medeiros in the seventh inning. Woodward hit a leadoff infield single before Trompiz reached on a fielder's choice, and Martin drew a one-out walk. Tanielu then drove in both baserunners with a double to center field over Castillo to make it 7-0. Tanielu's three hits Friday raised his batting average to .313 - fourth-highest in the Midwest League and best among players on Western Division teams - and his three RBIs Friday gave him a season total of 56 - the fourth-most in the league.

Hernandez scattered four hits and one walk while striking out eight batters, including the first two in the seventh inning. But Neuhaus then hit an infield single over the pitcher's mound that ended Hernandez's night. Right-hander Jorge Perez got the last out of the inning but allowed the only Wisconsin run in the eighth inning. Allemand led off by reaching second base on a dropped fly ball by center fielder Bobby Boyd. Right fielder Elvis Rubio reached on an infield single, with a throwing error by Trompiz sending Allemand to third base. Sharkey grounded an RBI single into right field before Perez got the last two outs of the inning, allowing one unearned run on two hits with one strikeout in 1 1/3 innings. Left-hander Zach Davis worked around a leadoff walk for a scoreless ninth inning to end the 7-1 victory.



31 Jul 2015

Bandits defeat Beloit

By Marco LaNave

BANDITS RALLY FOR 12-INNING WIN, SWEEP IN BELOIT

With fourth straight win, Quad Cities moves 30 games above .500 for first time in at least 14 seasons

BELOIT, Wis. (July 31, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits third baseman Luis Reynoso hit a game-tying, two-run double with one out in the ninth inning, and second baseman Nick Tanielu hit a go-ahead RBI single in the 12th inning of a 4-3 win over the Beloit Snappers and a three-game series sweep - the team's first since May 9 - at Pohlman Field Thursday night.

With four straight wins for the first time since June 30, the River Bandits (21-13 second half, 66-36 overall) moved 30 games above .500 for the first time in at least 14 seasons. Quad Cities has played 15 extra-inning games this season - its most since 15 in 2010.

Thursday's game began as a pitchers' duel. In his Midwest League debut, River Bandits right-hander Agapito Barrios retired the first 11 batters he faced, before first baseman Max Kuhn singled to left-center field with two outs in the fourth inning. Barrios then set down the next four batters, completing five shutout innings and holding the Snappers (14-19, 40-63) to one hit and no walks with three strikeouts.

Beloit right-hander Joey Wagman scattered four hits in the first five innings but allowed a run in the sixth inning. With two outs, River Bandits center fielder Ramon Laureano doubled to deep left field, and designated hitter Bryan Muñiz dropped a popup RBI double down the right-field line between Kuhn, second baseman Gabriel Santana and right fielder Shawn Duinkerk. Catcher Garrett Stubbs singled, and Muñiz ran toward home, but he was thrown out by the relay from left fielder Justin Higley to third baseman Jose Brizuela to catcher Iolana Akau for the third out of the inning. Wagman allowed one earned run on seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts in six innings.

With a 1-0 lead, River Bandits right-hander Dean Deetz made his Midwest League debut starting the sixth inning. He worked around a leadoff single by Santana in the sixth inning and a leadoff double by Kuhn in the seventh inning to keep the Snappers off the board. In the eighth inning, however, Duinkerk hit a popup down the third-base line, which Reynoso overran as he came from his shifted position, allowing Duinkerk to reach second base with a double. Designated hitter Joe Bennie then hit a game-tying double past Laureano in center field, and shortstop Mikey White drove in Bennie with a go-ahead double on a line drive down the third-base line. Kuhn walked to put runners at first and second bases, and Deetz was removed for left-hander Zach Davis. Brizuela grounded an infield single to the shortstop hole, but shifted shortstop Kristian Trompiz overthrew first base, allowing White to score to make it 3-1. All three runs - two earned - were charged to Deetz, who allowed five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings.

With a 3-1 lead, Snappers left-hander Jose Torres began the ninth inning by walking Laureano on four pitches and Muñiz on eight. After Stubbs advanced Laureano and pinch runner Bobby Boyd with a ground-ball to Torres, Reynoso lined a 1-0 pitch down the left-field line to score both runs. Torres struck out Trompiz and left fielder Jason Martin to end the inning. In a 3-3 tie, Davis completed one relief inning, allowing one hit and striking out three batters, before right-hander Angel Heredia entered to pitch 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Beloit got an 11th-inning leadoff double by Akau, but Heredia stranded him at third base.

In the decisive 12th inning, Trompiz led off against right-hander Kevin Johnson (2-6) with a double down the left-field line, Martin reached on a bunt single, and after a fielder's choice, Tanielu hit a chopper over Brizuela into left field to score Trompiz. In the bottom of the inning, right-hander Ryan Thompson retired all three batters for his fifth save.

After going 6-3 in a nine-game, 10-day road stretch, Quad Cities opens a season-long nine-game, 10-day homestand at Modern Woodmen Park at 7 p.m. Friday against Wisconsin. River Bandits right-hander Elieser Hernandez (0-1) is scheduled to face Timber Rattlers right-hander Angel Ventura (5-4) in the opener of a three-game series.

UP NEXT: Gates open at 6 p.m. Friday for the 7 p.m. game on John Deere Night. Following the game will be fireworks presented by Smart Toyota of Quad Cities, WLLR and WQAD. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

BLASTS AND BOUNCES HELP BANDITS BEAT BELOIT

Quad Cities hits three home runs in one inning for first time in five years

BELOIT, Wis. (July 29, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits designated hitter Ryan Bottger, left fielder Jason Martin and All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu each homered in a four-run fifth inning, and right-handers Eric Peterson and Riley Ferrell combined for five scoreless relief innings in a 4-3 win over the Beloit Snappers at Pohlman Field Wednesday night.

Beloit catcher Argenis Raga missed a two-out wild pitch from right-hander Brett Graves (9-5) on a third strike that would have ended the fifth inning with a 1-1 tie. That opened the door for the first three-home run inning by Quad Cities (20-13 second half, 65-36 overall) since hitting three in the first inning of an 8-7 win at Bowling Green July 22, 2010. Raga later appeared to hit a game-tying double in the seventh inning, but the ball bounced over the fence for a ground-rule play to keep the tying run from scoring. That preserved the lead to help Quad Cities achieve its first three-game winning streak since July 4 and move 29 games above .500 for the first time since Sept. 5, 2010 (83-54).

For the second straight night, Beloit (14-18, 40-62) took a first-inning lead. Snappers center fielder James Harris and designated hitter Max Kuhn hit consecutive one-out singles to left field, and River Bandits right-hander Justin Ferrell walked All-Star first baseman Sandber Pimentel to load the bases. Catcher Argenis Raga then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field for a 1-0 Beloit lead.

Graves allowed one hit and two walks in the first four innings. In the fifth inning, Bottger led off by swatting an 0-1 pitch over the right-field wall for a game-tying solo home run - the first Graves had yielded in three starts against Quad Cities. In a 1-1 tie, Graves retired the next two batters before striking out center fielder Bobby Boyd, but the pitch eluded Raga toward foul territory on the first-base side, allowing Boyd to reach first base. Martin then launched a 2-1 pitch over the left-center field wall for an opposite-field home run - his eighth to lead all active River Bandits - and Tanielu followed by hitting a 2-1 pitch from Graves over the left-center field wall. Graves departed after allowing right fielder Drew Ferguson's single, extending his 10-game hitting streak - the longest active streak by a River Bandit. Graves allowed four earned runs on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Right-hander Carlos Navas entered to toss 2 1/3 innings of one-hit shutout relief, and right-hander Koby Gauna did not allow a hit or run in the final two innings.

The Snappers trimmed the deficit in the bottom of the fifth inning by putting the first five batters on base against Ferrell. Second baseman Jose Fernandez dropped a leadoff ground ball by right fielder Shawn Duinkerk, and second baseman Tim Proudfoot and left fielder Joe Bennie followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. Ferrell then missed the strike zone on the next eight pitches, walking both Harris and Kuhn to force in two runs. With a 4-3 lead and the bases loaded with no outs, Peterson (6-4) struck out Pimentel on three pitches, got Raga to pop out to shallow right field, and put away third baseman Jose Brizuela on a foul popup to first base to keep the lead.

Peterson became Quad Cities' first six-game winner of the season by striking out a career-high five batters and matching a season and career high of three innings pitched. He struck out the side around a single in the sixth inning and kept the lead with help from a fortunate bounce in the seventh inning. Pimentel reached on a two-out bunt single against a shifted infield, before Raga struck a fly ball to deep left-center field, where the ball that could have scored Pimentel bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double, placing Pimentel at third base. Brizuela walked to load the bases before shortstop Mikey White hit a sharp ground ball that Fernandez fielded for an inning-ending forceout at second base. Ferrell allowed one walk and struck out two batters in two hitless innings for his first professional save.

30 Jul 2015

BANDITS REACH BEST OVERALL MARK SINCE 2010

By Marco LaNave

Quad Cities is 28 games above .500 overall for the first time in five seasons

BELOIT, Wis. (July 28, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits center fielder Bobby Boyd hit his first professional home run, All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu tied a career high with four RBIs, and right fielder Ramon Laureano added a three-run double to help the club reach its best overall record since the end of the 2010 season in an 11-4 win over the Beloit Snappers at Pohlman Field Tuesday night.

Playing their first game in Beloit since April 17 and their fifth game in 12 days with a chance to move a season-best 28 games above .500, the River Bandits (19-13 second half, 64-36 overall) held the lead after breaking a 2-2 tie with a five-run fifth inning. Quad Cities is 28 games above .500 overall for the first time since finishing the 2010 season 83-55.

Beloit (14-17, 40-61) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning against River Bandits right-hander Christian Powell (3-1). Snappers third baseman Jose Brizuela hit a two-out double to right-center field, and All-Star first baseman Sandber Pimentel hit an RBI single through the shifted infield to right-center field for a 1-0 Snappers lead. Powell then retired the next eight Beloit batters.

The River Bandits rallied for the lead against Snappers right-hander Junior Mendez (3-8) in the third inning. Catcher Garrett Stubbs reached on an infield single to shortstop Mikey White, and when White's throw skipped past first base, Stubbs went to second. Shortstop Kristian Trompiz hit an 0-2 pitch for a game-tying double down the right-field line and went to third base on Boyd's sacrifice, before left fielder Jason Martin lined an RBI single through the middle of the diamond for a 2-1 Quad Cities lead. The Snappers gained a tie with an unearned run in the fourth inning. Powell walked Pimentel with one out, and designated hitter Max Kuhn hit a sharp ground ball for an infield single to Tanielu, who overthrew first base, sending Pimentel to third base. Catcher Iolana Akau then hit a game-tying sacrifice fly.

With a 2-2 tie beginning the fifth inning, Stubbs drew a leadoff walk from Mendez and went to second base on Boyd's one-out single to right field. Mendez skipped a wild pitch past Akau to move both runners into scoring position, before Martin walked to load the bases. Tanielu then flied to left field, scoring Stubbs for the go-ahead run. Designated hitter Drew Ferguson singled into center field - extending his career-best nine-game hitting streak - to bring in Boyd for a 4-2 lead. Mendez departed for right-hander Kevin Johnson, who began by walking second baseman Jose Fernandez, before Laureano grounded a bases-clearing, three-run double down the left field to match his career high of three RBIs in one swing for a 7-2 River Bandits lead. Mendez was charged with six earned runs on six hits and two walks with one strikeout in 4 2/3 innings.

Boyd made the lead 8-2 with two outs in the sixth inning by driving a 2-0 offering from Johnson over the fence down the right-field line for a solo home run - his first in 146 professional games and 546 professional at-bats. The Snappers answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, as center fielder James Harris hit a leadoff double to right-center field, Pimentel drew a one-out walk and Kuhn lined an RBI double to left-center field for an 8-3 score. With runners at second and third bases, Powell struck out Akau and got right fielder Justin Higley for an inning-ending groundout. Powell went six innings, allowing three runs - two earned - on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

River Bandits left-hander Michael Freeman kept the lead by scattering four hits and one walk with one strikeout in two scoreless relief innings. The visitors reached their largest lead in the eighth inning, after right-hander Lee Sosa walked first baseman Ryan Bottger, Trompiz singled and Boyd walked to load the bases. With two outs, left-hander Mike Fagan allowed Tanielu's three-run double to right-center field for an 11-3 margin. Quad Cities right-hander Jorge Perez allowed a run on three walks and Kuhn's third hit in the ninth inning.

The River Bandits seek their first three-game winning streak since July 4 when they continue their series in Beloit at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

UP NEXT: Sunday is the Faith and Fellowship Night presented by Chick-fil-A and Moody Radio Quad Cities. Doors open at 3:15 p.m. for a special program on the suite level at 3:30 p.m., including music, speaker testimony and Baseball Chapel with the River Bandits. It is a Family Sunday, with the River Bandits signing autographs on the field at 4:30 p.m. before the 5:15 p.m. game. Kids Run the Bases postgame. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

27 Jul 2015

Weekend Results from the River Bandits

By Marco LaNave

BANDITS STING BEES WITH 3-RUN 8TH INNING

Quad Cities earns its 27th comeback win of the season in series rubber match

BURLINGTON, Iowa (July 26, 2015) - In his first start since July 2, Brock Dykxhoorn threw five shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out three, and a three-run top of the eighth inning lifted the Quad Cities River Bandits over the Burlington Bees by a score of 5-4 at Community Field Sunday afternoon.

Dykxhoorn, who left the game after five innings with a 2-0 lead, saw that lead erased by four runs by the Bees (12-19 second half, 47-53 overall) in their half of the sixth inning against reliever Joshua James (3-2).

Trailing 4-2, the River Bandits (18-13, 63-36) began their eighth-inning comeback after shortstop Alex Bregman began the inning with a ground ball misplayed by third baseman Erick Salcedo. First baseman Nick Tanielu followed with a walk, putting two on with nobody out against Burlington reliever Jacob Kopra (0-1). After right fielder Drew Ferguson struck out swinging, center fielder Ramon Laureano singled to load the bases with one out, knocking Kopra out of the game in favor of Bees closer Eduardo Paredes. Pitching for the second straight game, Paredes struggled initially, as right fielder Sean McMullen hit a ball to the warning track in right, more than deep enough to score Bregman from third and bring Quad Cities within one. With two outs, back-to-back RBI singles by catcher Trent Woodward and third baseman Luis Reynoso scored Tanielu and Laureano, respectively, putting the River Bandits ahead, 5-4.

The eighth inning erased a lead the Bees had built with a four-run sixth inning. Bees second baseman Tim Arakawa began Burlington's sixth-inning rally with a hit against James, followed by a fly ball to left off the bat of first baseman Nick Flair. The next three men all reached base for the Bees, beginning with a single by designated hitter Steven Mateo. Left fielder Trever Allen was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with one out for right fielder Natanael Delgado, who hit a ball to deep left-center field for a two-run, game-tying double. With Salcedo batting, James threw a wild pitch that allowed Delgado to advance to third and Allen to score for a 4-2 Burlington lead. After Salcedo struck out, the lead became two on a base hit by catcher Brandon Gildea.

Quad Cities had taken the game's first lead, wasting no time getting on the board in the first inning. Center fielder Bobby Boyd and Bregman each drew walks against Burlington starter Jake Jewell, with Boyd scoring on Tanielu's single, the 47th RBI of the season for the Quad Cities All-Star. The Bandits' second run came in a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the fourth inning. Ferguson led off with a single before Laureano, attempting to sacrifice the runner over, reached on a bunt single, and McMullen was hit on the foot by Jewell to load the bases for Woodward, who bounced into a double play to short, scoring the runner from third in the process for a 2-0 River Bandits lead.

After Quad Cities regained the lead in the eighth inning, Angel Heredia pitched spotless innings in both the eighth and ninth innings, striking out three batters to record his fifth save of the year.

After a Midwest League-wide off day Monday, the River Bandits will finish their road stretch with three games in Beloit beginning Tuesday. River Bandits right-hander Christian Powell (2-1, 2.53) is scheduled to face Snappers right-hander Junior Mendez (3-7, 5.10).

UP NEXT: Vote now until Monday for the Quad Cities River Bandits in the Quad-City Times Readers' Choice Awards. The River Bandits are up for Best Entertainment Venue, Best Family Entertainment, Best Place for a Kid's Birthday Party, and Best Place to Take Out of Town Guest. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

BANDITS' LATE RALLY FALLS SHORT, AS BEES TRIUMPH, 4-3

Strong, timely pitching holds Quad Cities away from victory

BURLINGTON, Iowa (July 25, 2015) - Burlington Bees starter Austin Robichaux shut out the Quad Cities River Bandits for the first six innings, and Bees right fielder Trever Allen was 3-for-4 and drove in three runs in his team's 4-3 win at Community Field Saturday night.

The one-run margin of victory for Burlington (12-18 second half, 47-52 overall) marked the second straight game and seventh this season decided by one run between the Bees and River Bandits (17-13, 62-36) in their first 16 meetings this season.

Robichaux (8-6) earned his second win in three starts against Quad Cities by pitching six-plus innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out two and walking four. Robichaux departed after allowing a hit and two walks to the first three batters in the seventh inning.

Burlington got on the board against Quad Cities starter Elieser Hernandez (0-1) in the third inning on a rally started by a one-out single by center fielder Ayendy Perez. Second baseman Tim Arakawa singled, advancing Perez to third. First baseman Nick Flair then hit a fly ball to right that was caught by Drew Ferguson, but deep enough to score Perez from third. Catcher Wade Wass followed with a walk, advancing Arakawa to second. Allen singled home Arakawa on a base hit to center field to double the Bees' lead to 2-0. The runs off Hernandez were the first the right-hander had allowed after 22 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to a June 29 outing in the Short-Season Class-A New York-Penn League with the Tri-City ValleyCats.

Burlington doubled its lead in the fifth inning against Hernandez on a one-out single by Wass and a home run by Allen - his fourth of the season - off the top of the second tier of signage in left field. Hernandez, who struck out three batters in his first two innings, allowed one hit in each of the first, second, and fourth innings, despite his struggles in the third and fifth.

Ryan Thompson finished the fifth inning for the River Bandits, and pitched 2 2/3 innings for Quad Cities, allowing no runs on one hit. Riley Ferrell threw a perfect eighth inning with a strikeout.

The River Bandits were able to knock out Robichaux with their rally in the top of the seventh, forcing the right-hander out of the game with the bases loaded and nobody out. However, reliever Jordan Piche got catcher Garrett Stubbs to ground into a double play, crippling the rally and limiting Quad Cities to just one run on the play. Second baseman Kristian Trompiz followed with a groundout to shortstop that ended the inning after only one run had scored.

The game tightened in the eighth inning on a two-out rally by the River Bandits, starting with a two-out walk to shortstop Alex Bregman and capped by a booming home run to left by All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu, making it a one-run game. With fresh life and a tie game in sight, Ferguson singled down the right-field line and was thrown out trying to reach second base, ending the inning. Burlington closer Eduardo Paredes pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 18th save of the year.

PAULINO, BANDITS BULLPEN COMBINE TO SHUT OUT BEES

First-inning run is enough to vault Quad Cities to series-opening win

BURLINGTON, Iowa (July 24, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits starter David Paulino pitched 6 2/3 innings of shutout baseball, striking out six and allowing three hits and three walks, and a two-out rally in the first inning capped by an RBI single by designated hitter Ramon Laureano was all the team needed in a 1-0 win over the Burlington Bees Friday night at Community Field.

Paulino (3-2) has shut out the opponent in all three of his wins with Quad Cities (17-12 second half, 62-35 overall), and has not allowed a run in five of his seven starts between Quad Cities and Short Season Class-A Tri-City this year. Prior to Friday, he pitched seven scoreless innings in his latest start Sunday against Cedar Rapids. Zach Davis, who was called up Friday from Tri-City, pitched one inning in his Midwest League debut, and Eric Peterson went the final 1 1/3 innings for his fifth save of the season.

The River Bandits shut out Burlington (11-18, 46-52) by a 1-0 score for the second time at Community Field this season and pitched their 10th shutout of the season - the most for the club since pitching 11 shutouts in 2010.

With two outs in the top of the first inning, shortstop Alex Bregman drew a walk on five pitches from Bees starter Justin Anderson (6-8). All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu followed with a base hit to right field that advanced Bregman to third. With runners on the corners, Laureano looped a ball into right that dropped in front of All-Star right fielder Natanael Delgado, scoring the first and only run of the game.

The Bees had one man reach base in each of the first four innings against Paulino, including the leadoff batter in both the first and third, but solid pitching and great defense, including a diving catch in left-center field by center fielder Bobby Boyd helped keep Burlington off of the board. The Bees' best threat came in the fifth inning against Paulino after Delgado singled up the middle for the Bees' first hit. Center fielder Ayendy Perez reached on a fielder's choice and then stole second base with Burlington second baseman Tim Arakawa batting. After Arakawa struck out, shortstop Jake Yacinich reached on an infield single, advancing Perez to third and putting runners on the corners with two down, but Paulino struck out left fielder Trever Allen to end the opportunity.

Burlington had one last chance in the ninth inning, starting with a leadoff single by third baseman Zach Houchins, who was lifted for pinch-runner Erick Salcedo. Designated hitter Trevor Gretzky was able to bunt Salcedo into scoring position with one out. After catcher Wade Wass struck out looking, with Delgado hitting, Salcedo was able to steal third, but Delgado struck out swinging to end the game.

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24 Jul 2015

BANDITS DROP THEIR FIRST ROAD SERIES OF 2015

By Marco LaNave

Quad Cities loses rubber match at Kane County in its quickest nine-inning road game in seven years

GENEVA, Ill. (July 23, 2015) - The Kane County Cougars broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning, drawing three walks before a two-out, bases-loaded popup by shortstop Ryan Gebhardt went off the glove of center fielder Bobby Boyd, leading to the go-ahead runs in a 5-2 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits, who lost their first road series of the season at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark Thursday night.

One night after their longest game in five seasons, the River Bandits (16-12 second half, 61-35 overall) played their quickest nine-inning road game in seven years. At one hour, 59 minutes, Thursday's game was the shortest nine-inning road game for the team since a 4-0 loss at West Michigan on May 4, 2008. Kane County (23-5, 59-37) played in its first series rubber match since June 12 but dealt Quad Cities its first loss in 16 road series this season and 18 road series since losing two of three in Cedar Rapids Aug. 18-20, 2014.

Cougars right-hander Ethan Elias and River Bandits right-hander Justin Ferrell dueled to a scoreless tie until the bottom of the sixth inning. Ferrell did not allow a hit until two outs in the fifth inning, but he began the sixth inning by allowing three in a row. Cougars left fielder Quinnton Mack doubled down the left-field line and went to third base when right fielder Chuck Taylor singled to right field. Center fielder Victor Reyes then grounded the first pitch he saw into left field for an RBI single, giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead. Designated hitter and All-Star Cody Regis grounded into a fielder's choice to put runners at first and third bases, before All-Star first baseman Marty Herum grounded to shortstop Alex Bregman, who stepped on second base and made a leaping throw to first base for an inning-ending double play. Ferrell was charged with one earned run on four hits with one walk and one strikeout in six innings.

Elias went six shutout innings, allowing three hits and two walks with five strikeouts, before right-hander Wei-Chieh Huang (5-1) began the seventh inning. Huang allowed a leadoff single by designated hitter Drew Ferguson, who extended his career-high six-game hitting streak. But Huang picked Ferguson off first base to end the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, River Bandits right-hander Jorge Perez (1-2) got the first two outs. Then Gebhardt singled to center field, went to second base on a passed ball by catcher Trent Woodward and reached third base on a wild pitch, before catcher Elvin Soto hit an RBI single to right field for a 2-0 lead.

Quad Cities rallied to tie the game in the eighth inning against Huang. Boyd tripled on a fly ball over the head of Taylor in right-center field, and left fielder Jason Martin followed by grounding an RBI triple off Herum's glove down the first-base line. Bregman then lifted a sacrifice fly to Taylor to score Martin for a 2-2 tie, but it began a string of five batters Huang retired in order to finish the game. Huang went three innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits and no walks with three strikeouts.

Perez began the bottom of the eighth inning by walking Reyes, who went to second base on Regis' sacrifice. Perez also walked Herum, before second baseman Henry Castillo grounded out to first base, advancing two runners into scoring position. Perez then walked third baseman Joe Munoz to load the bases. Gebhardt hit a first-pitch popup to shallow right-center field, where Boyd and right fielder Ramon Laureano both raced toward it, but the ball deflected off Boyd's glove and dropped between them, allowing both Reyes and Herum to score. On the next pitch, Soto lined an RBI single to right field to score Munoz and extend the lead to 5-2. Perez finished the inning but was charged with four runs - one earned - on four hits and three walks with one strikeout in two relief innings.

The River Bandits open a three-game series in Burlington against the Bees (11-17, 46-51) at 6:30 p.m. Friday. River Bandits right-hander David Paulino (2-2) is scheduled to face Bees right-hander Justin Anderson (6-7) in the series opener.

UP NEXT: Vote now until Monday for the Quad Cities River Bandits in the Quad-City Times Readers' Choice Awards. The River Bandits are up for Best Entertainment Venue, Best Family Entertainment, Best Place for a Kid's Birthday Party, and Best Place to Take Out of Town Guest. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

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